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DG tasks NYSC Officials on Creativity, Mentorship

Published

3 years ago

September 14, 2022

By Joel Ajayi

NYSC Officials have been urged to be creative, avoid all forms of malpractice and demonstrate the highest degree of responsibility in the discharge of their duties.

The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah stated this on Wednesday in his address at the opening ceremony of the Corps Welfare and Health Services Schedule Officers’ Workshop held in Abuja.

Participants for the workshop were drawn from the thirty-six State Secretariats, Area Offices and the FCT.

Speaking on the theme; “Capacity Building to Enhance Security and General Welfare of Corps Members”, Fadah said the workshop is aimed at equipping participants with techniques for effective handling of Corps Health, General safety and other welfare matters.

He stated further that it would enhance their ability to surmount emerging challenges in Corps administration.
He said the workshop also underscores the commitment of management to the implementation of one of the focal points of his administration’s policy thrust on the improvement of the security and general welfare of Corps Members.

“While assuring you of Management’s support for the successful discharge of your duties, l urge you to always be creative, shun all forms of malpractice and demonstrate the highest degree of responsibility as you are expected to serve as role models for the Corps Members, and show empathy to them, especially when they are in need of care.

While acknowledging our ability to keep pace with the current trends in Corps discipline and reward, we must not not lose sight of the fact that all our actions are subjected to public scrutiny “, the DG said.

He implored the Schedule officers to use the workshop to gain more knowledge on the processes and procedures for handling disciplinary cases as well as reward through Honours Award at the Local Government, State and National levels.

The Director General enjoined the officers to brace up for the tasks ahead adding that, “I wish to remind you to redouble your efforts in our bid to take the Scheme to more enviable heights as the nation will witness the Golden Jubilee of the Scheme, the general elections and the conduct of the National Population and Housing Census.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Population Commission are expected to enlist Corps Members as adhoc personnel for these programmes.

I must stress that we cannot afford to record any failure at the same time Nigerians are expected to roll out the drums in celebration of our five decades of unequalled contributions to nation building.

It will be a moment when your guidance, coordination and supervisory capabilities as field officers will be put to test”, Fadah added.

The Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services Department, Alhaji Ladan Baba in his remark said the department considered it necessary to develop the capacities of the Schedule Officers with a view to improving the quality of documentation , handling and presentation of cases concerning Corps Members’ safety, wellbeing and entitlements.

He added that the Schedule Officers would be adequately equipped with the necessary skills in meeting emerging challenges and also engineer self confidence in performing their duties.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Managing Director/CEO of Capital Express Assurance Ltd, Bola Odukale and Misari Ibiam, Deputy General Manager, Formal Sector from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) urged for sustained partnership with the NYSC for the benefit of all Corps Members.

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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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