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Minister Gives May Salary To Secure Release Of Five Inmates

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2020

…As Atta appeal for decongestion of NCS

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State Federal Capital Territory FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has sacrificed her May, 2020 salary to secure the immediate release of five inmates who could not pay for their fines at the Kuje Correctional Service.

She made the donation while felicitating with the inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Eid al-Fitr.

This was contained in statement issued her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austine Elemue, on Tuesday in Abuja said the donation would further go a long way to decongest the Correctional Service already overcrowded with inmates in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

She assured the inmates that the FCT administration would take further legal steps to see to the decongestion of the Kuje correctional service.

Aliyu described the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, as a God fearing man and a man with the heart of gold who believed in good governance.

“I will not only support the reduction, but I will also lend my voice in the reduction of prison inmates by picking up some bills.

“I will carry out the campaign and speak to well-meaning Nigerians because you cannot leave the burden of good governance to government alone.

“We know that some of you are awaiting trial, we know that some have not been tried at all, but provided there is law, we will not be lawless.

“We will go by the law and get in well-meaning Nigerians and pay up the fines. This will also go a long way to reduce the number, besides government pronouncements.

“Government pronouncement as we all know do not come easily in every nation.

“If government pronouncement comes very easily, then definitely, the name correctional centre will be misplaced. We know Mr. President recently spoke our minds when he spoke about the need to decongest our prisons.

“And I know my minister, a God fearing man, and a man with a heart of gold, he will certainly send message across. God willing, FCT administration will make moves to decongest our prison based on merit.

“I in my own capacity, I stand here personally on this Sallah day, I want to donate my salary for the release of 5 inmates,” she said.

Aliyu disclosed that the correctional service had been positioned to refine the inmates in the rebuilding of a better society, noting that they could make the best out of the experiences gained at the service.

“There are times in our life that we erred, but to err is human, and to forgive is divine.

“There are times in our life that we are put to test, sometimes, we pass the test, sometimes we fail.

“For various reasons, we may have found ourselves at the correctional centre. But you know what; you can make the best out of it.

“As we appreciate you, we pray for you to come out to be better citizens that will give us a Nigeria of our dreams.

“Somebody else cannot give us Nigeria of our dreams and you cannot give us Nigeria of our dreams from outside, you can only give us Nigeria of our dream from within and I know you are already at the preparatory stage.

“When you leave here either by amnesty or whatever pronouncements, you can only become better citizens,” Aliyu stated.

Earlier, The Comtroller, Correctional Service, FCT Command, Mustapha Atta, who commended the minister for her visit, expressed displeasure over the number of inmates awaiting trial.

Attah revealed that 70 per cent of the inmates are on awaiting trial list, adding that Kuje correctional service with a capacity of 560 inmates now accommodates no fewer than 866 inmates.

He appealed to relevant authorities to work toward the decongestion of the correctional service.

The minister donated 250 packs of cooked jollof rice, 500 bottles of soft drinks, 500 bottles of table water, 1000 face masks, 50 bags of rice, 50 cartons of spaghetti and 100 cartons of indoomie noodles to the inmates

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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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