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Experts canvass effective policies to improve educational standard

Published

6 years ago

July 29, 2019

Experts canvass effective policies to improve educational standard

Experts have advised managers in the education sector to initiate and implement policies that would capture emerging trends so as to enhance the standard of education in the country.

The experts, who spoke at the Speech and Prize Giving Day Ceremony of Redeemer Teap International School, Abuja on Saturday, said that effective policies were essential to advancing the cause of education in any country.

Mrs. Stella Ejiofor, Head Teacher of the school, said that government formulate policies that hardly see the light of the day, a situation, she noted, had remained a hinderance to the growth of the sector.

According to her, the major way we can address the challenges in education is to work with the approved policies so as to improve standards.

“If you look at the area of staffing, when recruitment is done, the qualified people, who sat for the examination, are not picked.

“We must improve the quality of teachers. It is important for teachers to get registered in line with the directives of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), so as to get qualified before the December deadline to avoid being out of job.

“Owners of private schools should also assist to get their teachers registered so as to work with only those qualified,” she said.

Mr Oladimeji Yusuf, Principal of the school, called for a holistic educational standards for children to attain greater heights.

He called on private school owners to make education affordable for all, urging the incoming Minister of Education to, as a matter of urgency, call for an education summit to address the issue.

“We have various challenges confronting the sector and one of it is high school fees. I want to implore all private schools to put in more efforts to provide holistic education at affordable fee for all,” he said.

A parent, Mrs. Ihuoma Ugwu, advocated for the introduction of indigenous languages to be taught at the lower primary, to enable Nigerian children learn and speak their indigenous language.

Ugwu said that that should be done through infusing the language into the curriculum, while also ensuring that the language subject stood alone.

“In the curriculum, I see that government only wants languages to be taught at the upper primary, and not from the early years. For us to know our language, we should start teaching it from the lower primary.

“In Nigeria, we have diverse languages. Every Nigerian should be able to speak at least one language fluently. That is only possible if we start from the early years,” he said.

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

Published

4 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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