Connect with us

Featured

Buhari Updates AU Heads of State on Nigeria Second Peer Review Process

Published

on

Joel Ajayi

As part of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s commitment to ensure successful conduct of Nigeria’s Second Peer Review Process, President Buhari will give updates on the process to his Counterparts during 30th  Forum of Heads of State and Government, African Peer Review Mechanism ( APRM), says Princess Gloria Akobundu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) APRM Nigeria.

In a press statement issued by the Media Assistant to NC/CEO, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria Abolade Ogundimu revealed that it will be held Thursday, 25 March in a virtual meeting by 1.30 p.m. Nigerian time and 2.30p.m South African Standard time.

According to APRM Boss, addressing the summit is one of the requirements for successful Review Process among APRM Member states.

The Summit will discuss various APRM related developments among member states, including updates on the ongoing Second Review Process of Nigeria by President Buhari.

Also, Reports on Targeted Reviews of Sierra Leone and Zambia, Briefing on Sudan’s Governance Gap Analysis, as well as progress made by Kenya and Mozambique in the implementation of their National Programme of Action (NPoA) will be discussed.

“It will be recalled that Prof. Eddy  Maloka, CEO, APRM Continental led the Continental Support Mission to Nigeria for discussion on the Country Self- Assessment Report (CSAR) and preparation to  receive the Country Review Mission (CRM) following the conclusion of Reports Harmonisation.

“Ambassador Mona Attia will lead Nigeria’s CRM that will go round the country for two weeks to validate the CSAR of Nigeria,” she said.

The Harmonisation was done after submission by four Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) with specialty on APRM thematic areas that analysed raw data collected from questionnaires and Town hall meetings across the country.

Maloka-led Support Mission, along with APRM Nigeria’s CEO and Members of National Governing Council (NGC) paid courtesy call to Prof. Ibrahim Gambari,  Chief of staff to President Buhari in order to further appreciate his stewardship while serving as the Chairperson  APRM Panel of Eminent Persons and officially brief him on the ongoing Review Process of Nigeria.

To further prove that Nigeria was set to conduct Successful Second Review Process after the First Review in 2008, the process was not hindered by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic as its protocols were being observed while exercise was also ongoing.

APRM, a Continental voluntary self-help assessment instrument to measure individual nation’s efforts in deepening good governance and democratic development.

It focuses on focuses on four thematic areas namely: Socio-Economic Development, Democracy and Political Governance; Economic Governance and Management; and Corporate Governance.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Featured

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

Published

on

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.”

Continue Reading

Trending

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)