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Don’t Lose Faith In Nigeria, Minister Urges Nigerians Youth
…NYSC Can’t Strive Without Stakeholder’s Support- DG
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Sunday Dare who participated at the meeting of NYSC top management with representatives of State Governments on Tuesday bearing an unmistakable message of hope urging Nigerian Youth not to lose hope in Nigeria until we have Nigeria of our dream.
Youth Minister stated this in Abuja during the maiden edition of meeting of NYSC of top management with representatives of State Government, with the theme; “Optimizing the potentials of Corps Members for National Unity and Development. The Role of State Governments as Stakeholders.”
He expressed that the meeting is timely and the choice of the theme is most appropriate.
According to him, I want to call all youth in the country not to lose Faith on Nigeria, we have hope, other countries that are great today pass through this stage, America spends close to 200 years before they get it right, so Nigeria will also get it right.
“This Meeting is, therefore, a significant step forward in the advocacy for increased support for the Scheme, especially at the grassroots. May I use this auspicious occasion to call on all participants to contribute toward addressing critical issues that will be discussed at this meeting and take home the decisions that will be made for effective implementation.
“This will not only endear our States to the Corps members but also motivate them to sustain their contributions to our various development efforts.
“For the potentials of Corps members to be fully harnessed for national development, a conducive working atmosphere must be created for them. However, I am concerned that the successes recorded by Corps members in the past are being impaired today by the inability of critical stakeholders, especially States and Local Governments to fully discharge their statutory responsibilities to the Scheme.
“Reversing this the trend will surely increase the tempo of contributions of Corps participants to the improvement of the living standard of our people, especially in rural communities.”
Mr. Dare also pledged the Federal Government support towards strengthening its operations while urging all States and Local Government Councils to discharge their obligations to the scheme in the areas of deficiencies that are affecting the smooth discharge of the Scheme’s mandate for the benefit of our dear country.
He commended the efforts of DG NYSC towards repositioning the Scheme for greater performance and actualizes the vision of its founding fathers.
“No doubt, the Scheme has made immense contributions to the socio-economic, political and cultural development of our great country. To sustain these achievements, all tiers of Government need to fulfill their obligations toward ensuring smooth operations of the Scheme.”
On his own, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu S. Ibrahim sought for the supports of every stakeholder saying that the scheme can only grow when there is stakeholders’ support.
He said the meeting was convened in the furtherance of his commitment to the success of the NYSC mandate.
“It’s particularly in line with one of the cardinal points of my policy thrust, which is to strengthen existing collaboration with critical stakeholders. Foremost of our stakeholders are states, LG and their role is crucial and critical to the smooth operations of the scheme.
“Stakeholders at different levels have always commented glowingly about the scheme’s achievement in the areas of Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, science and technology amongst others.
“And to sustained these feats and reposition the scheme for even greater impact, it has become expedient to make a critical appraisal of the performance of stakeholders as it spelled out in the NYSC Act Cap N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
He equally reiterated that the welfare of the corps members is paramount to the scheme.
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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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