English & Literature

Who is Mrs. Emenike from Girls at War, and Other Stories and what is their importance?

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Mrs. Emenike is the wife of a wealthy Nigerian politician. Like her husband, Mrs. Emenike opposes free primary school education for all Nigerian children. In particular, she is annoyed by the lack of cheap labor once the poor begin schooling. She is spiteful to her household servants as they leave, one by one, for school. When Veronica begins as her nanny, Mrs. Emenike is initially relieved and very pleased with the girl. One time, she sees Vero wearing red ink as lipstick and warns her that the ink is poisonous. The next day, she finds that Vero has tried to make her young son drink ink and beats her before sending her back to her mother. Martha returns with the despondent Vero and confronts Mrs. Emenika. Mrs. Emenike accuses her of raising a murderer and again laments the experiment in free education.