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Coy decries Incessant Harassment and Extortion By Youth Group
An Ajaokuta based Ceramics company, BN Ceramic industry Nig. Ltd. in Kogi state has said that it will never compromise its determined goal to give top priority to the welfare of every cadre of its workforce, irrespective of incessant harassment and extortion by some misguided youths.
The company also reiterated its vow to always accord due respect and provide succor to its host communities through its robust corporate social responsibility platform especially by providing employment opportunities to youths.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja shortly after some youths allegedly invaded the company premises and destroyed property worth millions of naira, the Human resources manager of the company, Mallam Saliu Mohammed said the management was shocked over the invasion.
According to him the youths under the auspices of Pan African Youths Development Network forcefully invaded the premises of the company accompanied by some armed policemen and soldiers and threatened to deal with the management of the company unless ₦10 million was given to them.
He disclosed that the youth group who also illegally demanded a bus and a certain amount of money to be paid to them from the company’s monthly profit also incited the workers against the management of the company which according to him led to the shutdown of the company.
“BN ceramic provides employment to over 1000 youths and pays all local government, state, and federal government taxes and levies, if they shut us down what would happen to the teeming youths working here? This kind of blackmail and intimidation will only scare away foreign investors from the country,” He said.
Mohammed stressed that the youth group capitalized on the accident that occurred outside the premises of the company involving a Volkswagen saloon Golf car and the company bus where two of its staff lost their lives with the allegations that the management was not responsive enough.
The Human resources Manager who was flanked by the Marketing development manager, Mr James Bright, and the sales manager, Mr Mike Tamir said there was practically nothing the company could have done to stop an accident that occurred several kilometres away from the company premises involving another careless commuter.
He told Journalists that immediately the news of the accident got to the management, they immediately dispatched some people to the scene led by the company’s safety officers who rescued the victims and immediately took those injured to the hospital.
Regrettably, “two female staff of the company namely, Faliar Ozigi and Halimat Jibo died on the spot of the accident.” he added.
The human resources manager said while he was preparing to go to the scene of the accident with other management team of the company to sympathize and give them necessary support, some youths in the area threatened to lynch them if they ventured out of the company premises, a situation which he said scared them.
He, however, disclosed that the management still made necessary arrangements and swiftly provided the necessary logistics to move the injured to the hospital and paid for all expenses incurred while those with complications have been moved to a higher hospital.
While saying the company has prepared a comprehensive package for the families of the two staff who lost their lives, he said more incentives will also be made available to the injured and vowed that the company will always be responsive to the plights and welfare at all times.
END.
Featured
Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles
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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