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CSO Frowns As Chinese Firm Allegedly Neglect Staff Involved in Kogi Auto Crash

Published

5 years ago

January 31, 2021

The PAN African Youth Development Network has alleged that the BN Ceramic Company has neglected workers involved in an auto crash that claimed the lives of seven staff of the firm, Ajaokuta, Kogi State while many were injured.

According to reports, an eyewitness said both vehicles had a head-on collision when the driver of the bus overtake another vehicle at a sharp bend.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. Solomon Agure, while confirming the accident, said that some staff of the ceramics company died in the company’s vehicle.

He said the staff worked overnight and closed in the morning but unfortunately when their staff bus was taking them home, their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle and three persons died on the spot. “Those that were injured were rushed to the hospital,” he said.

In a statement, the President of the Civil Society Group, Amb. Habeeb Muhammad, while commiserating with the families and victims stressed that no fewer than seven staff of the Chinese firm died in the road accident.

According to him, neither compensation nor medical care was given to the families and victims.

‘’Unfortunately, as we commiserate with the affected families and victims, not less than seven BN Ceramic’s workers died on 28th January 2021 as a result of an overcrowded company’s 18 seater bus, made to carry 28 passengers, which rammed into another oncoming vehicle on Ajaokuta expressway, but the most painful and excruciating fact is that including the dead and injured were abandoned by the BN Ceramic management till date,

‘’Neither compensation nor medical care, a proving evidence of their gross ineptitude and inhumanity.

‘’We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, Public Complaint Commission, National Human Rights Commission and other labor rights organizations to come to the rescue of these dying and endangered Nigerian youths.

‘’Lastly, these two companies: BN Ceramic Limited and West African Ceramic Limited are unrepentant and determined to wreck more havoc against the workers, who are more seen as slaves rather than staff. Injustice anywhere is a huge threat to Justice Everywhere. We have emphatically spoken,’’ he said.

It could be recalled that the CSO recently called on Federal Government to urgently intervene in the serial injustices and gross violations of human rights and factory laws 2004 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria perpetrated by the leading Chinese ceramic industry in Ajaokuta, Kogi State named BN Ceramic Limited and another adjacent to it is the Western African Ceramic Limited respectively.

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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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