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Nigeria TEQBALL Federation Pays Condolence Visit To Its President

Published

5 years ago

November 11, 2020

By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria TEQBALL Federation, NIGTEQ over the weekend paid a condolence visit to its president, Habu Gumel over the death of his darling wife.

The federation’s delegation to the condolence visit was led by its General Secretary, Mr Ndudi Edede.

Speaking after the federation arrived at the President’s house in Maitama, Abuja, the General Secretary consoled Mr Gumel over the death of his wife.

While stating that federation shares in his grief over his wife’s passing, the General Secretary also appealed to the number one Teqball man in the country to take solace in God’s mercy to rest her soul.

He noted that the federation deemed it necessary to show solidarity with him at the moment of pain because his departed wife was a pillar of support to the federation when she was alive.

“We are here as a federation on a condolence visit to our president on the loss of his darling wife. It’s a great loss to the federation and we felt so much pains over her death. We thought it wise to come as a team to condole with the family. May God give him the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“Your wife was a pillar of support for the federation and we cannot imagine how much you miss her. She was a great woman who stood solidly by you. I recall seeing her with you in few international engagements. We know she is is gone and we pray that God will have mercy on her and grant her eternal rest,” Mr Ndudi Said.

Responding, Engr. Gumel thanked the federation for their support and commended them for showing solidarity at with him.

Engr Gumel who also is the President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, said that the death of his wife was a huge loss.

Describing her as “my briefcase” Mr Gumel noted that he had lived with her for 43 years and had always travelled with her to anywhere during international engagements.

“I want to thank you immensely for coming to show your support. It is an indication that we are a family.

“I have lived with my wife for 43 years and to lose her now is a huge pain because she had always been my briefcase. Briefcase in the sense that I could not travel anywhere with him. She was a great woman, wife and mother.

“But there is nothing anybody can do right now. We cannot quartino her creator who had called her. All what she needs from all of us right now is prayer so that God can accept her in his kingdom,” he said.

On the entourage were the Anambra State Teqball Association Chairman, Chief Edwin Umeanozie and his FCT counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Galadima,
Other members of the delegates include the Director of Sports and Director of technical.

“The late wife according out president had been an integral part of him, they travelled together and lived together for over 40 years.

“So at this moment of grief, we want to show support to the family and let them feel that we are with them and feel for them too,” Mr Ndudi told journalist after the visit.
Late Hajia Ladi Habu Ahmed died in the early hours of Tuesday, 20th October, 2020 at a Private Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Aged 61, Ladi Gumel was a beloved and caring mother, who died of a protracted illness. She is survived by her husband, Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel and four lovely children.

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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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