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Almajiri Ban: Fix Unemployment, Says APC Ex-Lawmaker

Published

6 years ago

June 25, 2019

A member of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Abdulkadir, has reacted to the planned abolition of the Almajiri system of education, calling on the Federal Government to address the unemployment problem.

Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, the former lawmaker said that if the unemployment issue is addressed, the security challenges facing the nation can be reduced.

He also wants education to be a priority for the current administration in order to ensure that the citizens are effectively enlightened.

“Certainly, in any country where education is not gotten right, we are bound to be faced with problems one of which could be insecurity and general social instability.

“And the more we have educated people, the better for us not only in stabilizing the security of a country but also in making progress in the lives of the people.

“Education is one of the problems, we have to get it right. We also have to fix the problem of unemployment. Unemployment, proving jobs is not only for the educated people,” he said.

Abdulkadir who is also a former Deputy Majority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly also called for the expansion informal sector of the economy

Specifically, he wants the government to strengthen the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, that will engage many of the nation’s youths.

Similarly, a former Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Umar Barde, decried the non-execution of budgetary allocation on the part of the executive.

While noting that the National Assembly has played its role of passing the nation’s budget, he believes the slow implementation has led to some economic problems among which is the Almajiri.

“If you look at the insecurity, what the National Assembly has been able to do all this while, we have been trying to provide money in defence, in terms of budgetary allocation.

“Most times, if you go to the Ministries, they will tell you money has not been released. When it comes to execution (of the budget), there is a problem. I have never seen a problem when the National Assembly refuses to allocate money for strategic needs.”

He, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rejig his subordinates for effective delivery to the benefit of Nigerians.

Both comments come a few days after the National Economic Council disclosed that some groups like the Almajiri groups would be proscribed by the Federal Government.

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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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