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Civil Society Petition Chinese Company Over Alleged Injustice, Inadequate Welfare For Workers

Published

5 years ago

January 26, 2021

Tunde Olabisi, Abuja

The PAN African Youth Development Network has petition the management of BN ceramics Nigeria Limited, Kogi over an alleged injustice and lot of irregularities perpetrated by the company on Nigeria youth whom they engaged as factory workers.

In the petition written to the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters, signed by the Aare Oladotun Hassan, Esq. Principal Partner, was titled’’ petition against BN ceramics Nigeria limited and others over act of criminal conspiracy, gross ineptitude, devaluation and violation of human rights, threat to life, attempted murder and shooting of mr oloye elega and other acts of molestation of workers and staffs of the company in contravention of factory act 2004 fgn.

The petition dated 24^th, Janury, 2021, read thus, ‘With sublime respect, we are Solicitors to PAN African united Youth Development Network represented by Amb. ,Habib Muhammad, Nigerian Youth Coalition represented by Bar. Aare Oladotun Hassan, Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide represented by Sola Olumola, and All Concerned and Affected Staffs of BN Ceramic Nigeria Limited hereinafter referred to as “Our Clients/Victims, on whose behalf we seek you’re urgent due diligent investigation and prosecution of the above captioned matter respectively.

‘’Based on this premise, the fact of the matter is bordering on continuous criminal actions of slavery and multiple injustices meted on the helpless Nigerian youths by the management of BN Ceramic Limited perpetrated by Mr. Saliu Mohammed, Human Resource Manager, wherein for many years the culprits subjected innocent female youths to sexual harassment, recent shooting of Oloye Elega, a cleaner, threatening violence and attack our clients respectively.

‘’Hence, we are aghast to report this serial act of threats against workers, for lots of workers have been subjected to gross human rights violations under hash circumstances, but if nothing meaningful is done, this threat is capable of reality and eventual evil consequences to our clients, precipitating our urgent appeal for a due diligent investigation of the culprits.

‘’Our clients are civil and law abiding citizens, with no traces of criminality or taints. We shall await your accelerated approval of our petition for onward investigation accordingly.

Earlier, The President of PAN African Youth Development Network Ambassador Habib Muhammad has called Federal Governmnet to look into the alleged slavery and injustice meted on Nigerian youth by the management of BN ceramics Nigeria Limited.

Muhammad made the call when he led other members of the organisation to BN Ceramics Company owned by Chinese investors based in Ajaokuta, Kogi State and Addressing the management of the company after the team toured the production site, Muhammed explained that the visit was borne out of series of complaints received from the workers of the industry.

He lamented that after the tour of BN ceramics factory the group observed a lot of irregularities perpetrated by the management of the company on Nigeria youth whom they engaged as factory workers.

The youth leader who was visibly furious stated that the organization cannot sit down and allow Nigerian youth being used as slaves in their own country.

He blamed the Human Resource Manager of the company Salihu Mohammed for conniving with the Chinese to suffer Nigeria youth through arbitrary deduction of their salaries, poor remuneration and hazardous working environment.

The President of coalition of youth organizations in Nigeria, Barrister Oladotun Hassan who was part of the team that visited the company stated that the workers of BN Ceramics Nigeria limited have complaint of gross ineptitude, devaluation and violation of human rights as contained in the labor law, stressing that the tour to the factory of the company proved that the complaints are genuine.

He alleged that the company has violated the factory Act 2004 of the federal republic of Nigeria in relation to health, safety, hazard and precautionary measures, expressed displeasure over prolonged working hours and actualization of workers and working without appointment letters as complained by the employees of BN Ceramics Limited.

The youth leader also disclosed that a legal action will be taking over the shooting of one Oloye Elega, a cleaner in the company who was paid a paltry sum of money as compensation.

He also called on the Minister of labour Dr Chris Ngige to act swiftly with a view to end such anomalies , stressing that the minister cannot be sitting in the comfort of his office while foreigners are dehumanizing Nigerian youth under the pretense of creating jobs for Nigerians.

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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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