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Covid-19: NEWSAN Harps On Hand Wash

Published

5 years ago

August 3, 2020

Admin

The Society for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN) and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) have called on Nigerians to wholly embrace hand washing as daily routine to effectively curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

Speaking at a one-day strategic workshop held recently in Abuja, NEWSAN National Coordinator, Mr. Benson Attah emphasised the importance of the WASH activities in relation to the dreaded coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. He noted that water as the gateway to citizens’ and country’s development affects all sectors, hence the need to upscale the ongoing awareness campaign among all stakeholders and the general public.

Attah stressed that strict adherence to WASH practices shall curb under 5 (years) mortality rate related to water borne diseases, adding that establishment of WASH facilities will fast-track the reopening of schools in the nation.

He said, “It is also evident that coronavirus has come to stay, therefore, there is a rising need to intensify our interventions in curbing its spread through WASH campaign that we have been championing even before the Covid-19 outbreak.”

He explained that the Society for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN) and Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) are partnering organisations that drive the process responsible for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in ensuring that stakeholders in the WASH sectors are committed to SDG 6 and their national development plan, adding that the essence of the one-day strategic workshop is to review the CSOs’ commitments being developed in 2019 with a wider stakeholders’ engagement.

The session which was attended by the Media, Civil Society groups, Federal Ministries of Health, Women Affairs, Water Resources, Education, Environment, National Orientation Agency, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and FCT RUWASA.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders` workshop, the group observed that there is a low level of compliance in most LGAs on ODF practices, as only 23 out of 774 LGAs are open defecation free.

The group noted that due to the fast spreading of Covid-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to create an awareness campaigns at communities/ households levels on WASH practices to effectively control and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It lamented that some states are not complying with the guidelines of WASH sector while some related projects are being underfunded.

“It is obvious that federal government cannot fund all the projects, hence, private sectors and civil society groups should contribute their quota in achieving the national and global goals.”

NEWSAN reiterates its commitment to engage policy makers so as to hold them accountable for their compliance with Nigeria’s WASH sector’s 2014 and 2019 SWA commitments and Ngor declaration by 2021 just as it urged the legislative arm of the government (federal and state) to enact law that will make it mandatory for both federal and state governments to construct public toilets in strategic locations in the LGAs across the nation.

NEWSAN also said it would intensify its engagement with the State Governors on state by state basis through the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF) and seek the support of the legislators at both national and state levels to improve WASH services by 2021.

“In the management of public toilets, low user-fee(s) for users of such facilities should be introduced to encourage the private sector buy into it.”

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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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