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68 Corps Members, Others Trained As Soil Doctors, Extension Service Workers

Published

5 years ago

March 23, 2021

Joel Ajayi

Sixty-eight Corps members are among the two hundred and sixty-nine pioneer graduates of a mass training of Soil Doctors and Extension Services Workers in the country in what is seen as another giant leap forward in the Federal Government’s efforts to boost agricultural production.

The training was conducted by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in collaboration with the Borno State Government as part of the thousands planned for the entire country.

In a statement issued by the Scheme Director of Press and Public Relations Adenike Adeyemi (Mrs) revealed that, inclusion of the Corps members is part of the outcomes of an ongoing partnership between NYSC and NALDA aimed at ensuring success of the effort of the Scheme to reinvigorate its agricultural programme.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony which took place at the Government House, Maiduguri, the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, said President Muhammadu Buhari was passionate about the quality of food production, and had mandated his agency to make sure the country’s soil yielded maximum output and enable farmers to earn higher returns on investment.

Ikonne said the two-week intensive training provided the requisite knowledge and skills on how to collect soil samples, conduct soil tests, and render extension services to farmers.

He added that the trainees were also equipped with soil sample collection and analysis kits, which they would use for the job.

The Executive Secretary praised the Borno State Government and the NYSC Management for speedily keying into the initiative.

Speaking on the occasion, the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan congratulated all stakeholders in the training, and expressed confidence that it would provide additional impetus to the agricultural sector.

He said the event was a further demonstration of the commitment of the Buhari Administration to ensuring food security, adding that the Administration had invested resources in agriculture than any previous Government in the country.

Lawan assured that the National Assembly would make legislations to support the sector, including ones to guarantee favourable market for farmers.

He commended the Borno State Government and the National Youth Service Corps for cooperating with NALDA, adding that it was an indication of increased regard for inter-agency collaboration and inter-governmental cooperation.

In his address, the Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum stressed that knowledge of the soil for the purpose of cultivation of any type crops by farmers was too important to be ignored.

Zulum said the training of the Soil Doctors and Extension Services Workers would go a long way in ensuring the preservation of soil as well as ensure optimum utilisation of arable land in the state and the entire country.

He, therefore, thanked NALDA for availing the state of the training to promote agricultural productivity, adding that the State Government would in turn support the Agency for the success of its programmes.

The Governor, who said agriculture was at the heart of the state’s development strategies, added that his Administration would continue to welcome opportunities for improvement of the sector.

In a goodwill message, the NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim described the training of the Soil Doctors and Extension Services Workers as laudable, noting that it came at a time the Federal Government was pursuing it’s policy on diversification of the economy through harnessing of the nation’s potentials in agriculture and other non-oil sectors.

“No doubt, the activities of the young men and women, who are concluding their training today, will go a long way in enhancing agricultural productivity and profitability in Nigeria.

“I have no doubt in my mind that this initiative will also make agriculture and allied activities more attractive to youths, in particular, and the rest of the population,” he added.

Ibrahim urged the trained youths to judiciously apply the knowledge acquired for the benefit of the country.

He informed the gathering that the NYSC was rejigging its Agricultural programme to compliment the effort of the Federal Government towards ensuring that Nigeria attains self-sufficiency in food production.

The Director-General said the Scheme’s mega farms are currently operational in the FCT as well as Bauchi, Kebbi and Oyo States, adding that NYSC had also keyed into federal government’s rice policy programmes with the cultivation of rice in the FCT and Kebbi farms.

He disclosed that the rice production would be expanded with the cultivation of the farm in Ezillo, Ebonyi State during the 2021 farming season.

He spoke of the Scheme’s collaboration with NALDA as well as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture; Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute; National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization; and the National Cereals Research Institute, which are geared towards training of Corps members and Staff on modern farming techniques and deployment of equipment.

A major highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Certificates and soil sample collection and analysis kits to the graduates.

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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