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CBN Intervention: 151,000 Cotton Farmers Target 200,000 MT Productions

Published

6 years ago

July 31, 2019

The National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) has said that with the ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention on cotton production through the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) which covered about 151,000 farmers, at least 200,000 metric tons yield is expected.

The National President of NACOTAN, Mr Anibe Achimugu who disclosed this to Tribune Online in Abuja, said the CBN had also empowered the ginning companies to off-take the cotton from the farmers immediately it is harvested.

“The federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria has intervened in cotton production directly, and when I say directly, I mean through the Anchor Borrowers Program, which has now basically captured about 151,000 farmers where the CBN finance inputs for the farmers.

“So all the recommended inputs and the quantities have been released for the farmers to go out and plant, and farmers have planted and they are caring for their farms at the moment.

“We would say that the intervention is holistic because part if the problem in the production is who would buy, what sort of price will I get, but CBN is looking at the entire value chain, so now that farmers are producing, they (CBN) are going to finance the cotton ginning companies that process the raw cotton for the textile people, so the ginning companies will now have the funding they need to buy from the farmers.

“A meeting will be held between the ginning companies and the cotton farmers representatives and a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed on the price the cotton would be sold”, Achimugu said.

On quality seed, Achimugu said the CBN provided enough improved seed for the farmers to produce enough cotton that would Service the existing textile companies in the country.

“As I said, the intervention is holistic, every single requirement to farm one hectare of cotton have been addressed by the CBN including our poor seed situation. So the poor seed situation has been addressed with the seed that has been brought in through this program, so seed is no longer a challenge, we have brought in excess.

“My belief is that the production of this year, the existing textile industries will not be able to take all. Yes, part of the challenge of the textile companies was that they were not getting enough cotton, so but with this intervention, they would get the quantity of cotton that they need sustainably”.

Furthermore, he said “this Anchor Borrowers Program has helped us to refocus and be able to put our system and structures in place, which means that we can now be financially sustainable, and we are now able to provide the necessary extension services.

“We are expecting nothing less than 200,000 metric tons from this CBN intervention if you compare it to the last year of 80,000 metric tons”.

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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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