My Week in News Review: On Female Sports and Children’s Rights

First, I want to apologize for my absence last Tuesday. Truthfully, I have passed through a lot in the past few days. That’s the reason for my absence. Please accept my sincere apologies. It is my belief that things are taking a turn for the better. That said, I hope your week looked nothing like mine.

This week in the news made me to “think”. Yes, “contemplation” is the perfect description of my week in news review. So, let’s get straight into it.

I learnt about bilharzia, which is also known as schistosomiasis. More than two hundred million people worldwide have been infected with this disease — a majority of which are those living in sub-Saharan Africa. This waterborne disease is caused by parasitic worms found in fresh water. So, according to Google, some preventive measures would include avoiding contact with freshwater, drinking safe water or water from clean sources, and using safe water for domestic chores.

Moreover, I got to learn about Nigeria’s Green Falcons and the possibility that they could become the first African team to qualify for the women’s Rugby League World Cup. Of course, as you may have imagined, this brought joy to me. Also, it made me consider the benefits of sports, especially to women. For most women, it offers a better life. While education and good job opportunities may not be viable options for some of these women, sports opens a door to endless possibilities. For instance, some of these women are now able to play in international teams. This is the reason why your investment in female sports is so important. Do me a favor, please: can you cheer this women on? On your socials? Can you please choose to watch their games?

More so, it gave me true delight to know that female sports have grown so much that corporates are beginning to sponsor their teams. It is safe to say that investing in female sports is a sure bet. Why? Oh, their track records are sufficient proof. The past few months have shown us this. Look at the Super Falcons and the D’Tigress. What a time to be female! Oh what a time!!

Furthermore, I was sad to hear about the Egyptian children being arrested for online gaming. This is what we know: the name of the game is PUBG. Minors were lured by security forces into terrorist-related charges in an entrapment scheme. In addition, human rights organizations, like the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) have stated that there have been numerous violations of human rights, like enforced disappearances, lack of due process, torture and mistreatment.

To be honest, I am outraged by this. Nothing ever justifies violating human rights. This is even more so, when children are involved. Minors have no business being in prisons where criminals reside. Nothing justifies their torture and mistreatment. My heart, thoughts and prayers goes out to the children and families affected by this.

Also, I was glad to hear about the ruling of the Constitutional Court of South Africa regarding equal parental leave. I simply cannot wait to see a similar stance by the Nigerian courts. You see, I believe that where it is possible, both parents must be involved in the training of the child. It is not the sole preserve of the mother. Men must play a vital role in bringing up their children. They must learn to shower their kids, cook for them, play with them, etc. This ruling ensures that. It infers the truth of equality of both genders. Though, I must state that I do wonder if the period of parental leave be reduced. I think four months is quite long for parental leave, especially, if it is paid. In my opinion, employers would be at a disadvantage as they would be at a loss for more than a quarter of a year. But I am open to discussions on this.

Lastly, I was happy to learn that renewable energy overtook coal as the world’s leading source of electricity. This ought not to come as a surprise. This is particularly true because renewable energy is infinite. This is also a call to investors to stop investing in fossil fuel that deplete and that are ultimately, unsustainable and environmentally unfriendly. From the looks of it, net zero emissions by 2050 is a certainty. Renewable energy is the future. It’s only a matter of when.

And that’s a wrap, guys! Any news?