‘I went to study law when my last born went to high school’ By Josephine Agbonkhese Just like yesterday, it’s already one year since an African got elected to preside over all Inner Wheel Clubs worldwide for the first time in history. Yemisi Alatise, a Nigerian, was that illustrious one. As she hands over the baton of leadership this July, Alatise, in this interview with Weekend Woman, relieves her experiences presiding over the women-only charity club which operates in 103 countries. How has it been?It’s been very busy because I’m in charge of over 103 countries where Inner Wheel is present. I supervise what these countries are doing and so far, I’ve been to over 23 countries. What are the experiences gained in the course of visiting these countries? I’ve learned a lot from civilized countries where social services are managed by government and where education is qualitatively provided by the government. I hope Nigeria gets to that stage some day. There was a country I got to and when we asked what kind of help Inner Wheel could render, the president of that country said “Our children lack nothing”. I asked how and he said they enjoy free launch, free education, free transportation, free books, and free school scandals. Even the physically challenged there are adequately provided for. I hope Nigeria will get to that stage. Yemisi Alatise Are you insinuating Nigeria is the most backward of all countries visited? I am not saying there aren’t countries that are worse than Nigeria. Take India for instance because of their large population. When their government wants to set up a school, they will just put up four pillars and a roof and that is a school. Then Inner Wheel will go to such schools and build them up with all the necessary facilities. That is abundant everywhere in India, and there are some families today that their own children will be the first generation in their family to have gone to school; at least the southern part of this country(Nigeria) has gone beyond that level. On the other hand, there are some countries that their social services are so superb that all Inner Wheel does is to pay for a dog to accompany a blind person. The dog will be trained to open the door, pick letters from the box as well as help the physically handicapped in other ways. In countries like Finland too, all Inner Wheel does is to pay for a dog to sniff cocaine. We believe that here in Nigeria, our social services can be better. The lesson taken from there is that Nigeria can one day get to that stage if we try to do better. I love your sanguine spirit but what steps are you taking to ensure that there is development in Nigeria? We are still far from development. When I became the International President of Inner Wheel, as a non governmental organisation, the government of Lagos State was not even ready to see me; they did not even acknowledge the letter written to them. I was in Ouagadogou, I requested to see the Prime Minister and he gave a listening hear and also passed a bill against rape; but it is not so in Nigeria. This has not stopped us from doing the little we could do, anyway, because we source for funds from among ourselves; no grants from anywhere. Inner Wheel is particular about children just as it is about women; what do you think is responsible for the increase in child abuse in our society today? I will say it’s poverty. You find a step-father abusing the step-daughter while the mother the mother closes her eyes out of the fear that the man will drive her out of the house. But if a woman is economically independent, she can say no to any form of abuse. Economic independence is very important for a woman. We have been subjugated long enough that as a woman you have no voice. Hence, we need to raise our children to have confidence in themselves and never allow any man to abuse them. They must learn to stand by what they believe in. Averagely, women are afraid to say no to their husband even in the face of abuse but you don’t need to be rich before you take your stand. My father raised me to be a very confident girl and I believe in myself. Your background, for the benefit of those reading you for the first time…? After I finished my secondary school I had to start working because my parents could not afford my university education. I was employed as a shorthand typist with T. A. Braithwaite Insurance Brokers, and later as confidential secretary with Lepetit Pharmaceutical Products, Ikeja, Lagos. I remember I also did all my father’s laundry and cooked his meals. Later on, I started earning money as a farmer and through my trading, I was empowering women. After I got married, I had my children in quick succession and when my last child went to secondary school, I went to the university to study law. At the age of 40, all my six children were more in school than home. I had plenty of time on my hands and I decided to have a tertiary education. I got a Diploma in Law from the Lagos State University. I was engaged as a Lay/Juvenile Magistrate by the Lagos State Judicial Commission, and was there for five years before resigning voluntarily to start a family business. My husband is late now but I’m still managing our family farm. We have our agro allied farm with gari farm. We also have our own customized gari. But is it advisable for couples to have a joint business? It is best to set up a company with your husband. However, while the family business is on, you have to be active and keep your eyes open so you know of every change your husband is making. That way, your future and that of your children are secured. You’re 66 and still look youthful…is there something you do differently? I like myself, I eat what I like, I respect myself and I hate cheats. I will not be rude to you and you should not be rude to me…and don’t step on my toes. You’ve been a member of Inner Wheel for 40 years. What attracted you to the organisation? As a little girl, before the end of the civil war, I had joined a group to form Voluntary Service of Nigeria. All we did then was to go to schools to ask people to bring their old shoes, clothes and other things. I would wash, mend iron and package them, then we take them to children in the war front. When I finished my secondary school education, I told my dad I wanted to join the Red Cross because I wanted to go to the warfront, but he refused. But as soon as I got married, I had to follow my husband who was a Rotarian to a ladies’ nite event. When we got there, I was invited by a lady to come and join Inner Wheel, which I gladly did because the passion for service had always been in me; and since 1978 when I joined, I’ve never looked back. The post ‘I went to study law when my last born went to high school’ appeared first on Vanguard News. from Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2trzYLS via Naijapounds