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Director-General Warns Corps Members Against Cultism, Drug Abuse

Published

4 years ago

March 1, 2022

Joel Ajayi

National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu has warned Corps Members to avoid cultism, drug abuse and other social vices that can mar their future.

He gave the warning Tuesday in his address to the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Corps Members during the Swearing-in ceremony at the NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.

He counselled them to use the Orientation Course, which is the first cardinal programme of the Scheme to equip themselves adequately for the tasks that lie within the service year.

Major General urged them to ensure participatory camp life by taking seriously leadership training, paramilitary drills and other physical trainings, as well as sensitization on topical national issues.

DG advised the Corps Members to use the NYSC platform to kick-start the various activities that will enable them realize their potentials and attain great feat, both within and beyond the service year.

“You must continue to distance yourself from cultism, drug abuse and other social vices. I enjoin you to avail yourselves of this once-in-a-life-time opportunity by participating actively in all camp activities.

I implore you to sustain the high level of discipline and enthusiasm you have demonstrated so far, especially by obeying the camp rules and regulations”, he said.

Ibrahim informed the Corps Members that one of the objectives of NYSC is to promote national unity and integration, hence, they must use the social media to achieve that, instead of using it to spread fake news, hatred, among others.

He urged them to entrench the culture of working together in an atmosphere filled with friendship, love, harmony, and shared vision of a great and prosperous Nigeria.

Speaking further, General Ibrahim admonished the Corps Members to be security conscious at all times and report any suspicious character around them to the appropriate authorities.

He reminded them that white-collar jobs are not readily available. He said; “therefore l encourage you to avail yourselves of opportunities for self-employment offered through our Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

“You are to choose from any of the skill areas, and make yourselves available for the training, which starts from the Orientation camp.

On our part, Management will continue to work with relevant stakeholders for the success of the programme”.

The Director-General equally urged the Corps Members to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 preventive measures, such as physical distancing, wearing of facemasks and the use of hand washing facilities provided at strategic locations in the camp.

He reminded them that the Federal Government’s directive on presentation of evidence of COVID-19 vaccination as a pre-requisite for gaining entry into public offices is still in force, adding that those of them that are yet to be vaccinated should do so as the rule will also apply to them in their respective places of primary assignment and other public offices.

“We are sustaining our liaison with the relevant authorities with a view to ensuring that the vaccines are made available to you in the course of this programme”, the DG added.

Ibrahim commended the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for their continued support towards safe and efficient conduct of the Orientation course within the framework of the ‘new normal’.

“Indeed, the sustained provision of Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits and sensitization materials by the NCDC for usage in all the Orientation camps is a clear indication of the agency’s interest in the success of the Scheme.

I also thank the State Ministries of Health, as well as Federal and State tertiary health institutions for their support in the areas of COVID-19 prevention and general health services”, General Ibrahim stated.

The NYSC boss thanked the members of the House of Representatives and other Nigerians for the progress made so far in the legislative process on the bill for the establishment of the NYSC Trust Fund.

He appealed to the appropriate authorities to provide the necessary enablement for the actualization of the fund, which will ensure the smooth operation of the Scheme, especially addressing the challenge of infrastructure, and also boost the skill acquisition programme aimed at empowering Corps Members for self-employment and wealth creation.

The Director-General implored the support of all stakeholders for the success of the Scheme’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), which is aimed at providing easier access to free and qualitative healthcare, especially for the rural poor.

“I implore well-to-do individuals and corporate bodies to take a cue from Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, by donating well equipped ambulances for the operation of the NYSC Mobile Clinics, as well as other essential equipment and drugs that will facilitate the conduct of our medical outreaches”, he said.

A total of 2,500 Corps Members took the Oath of Allegiance administered by the FCT Chief Judge, Hon Justice Husseini BabaYusuf, represented by Hon Justice Olukayode Adeniyi.

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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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