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FG Thumbs APRM team on successful CSAR process in Nigeria

Published

4 years ago

October 8, 2021

… Review will strength sustainable economic development-Princess Akobundu

Joel Ajayi
Federal government have commended the entire Africa Peer Review Mechanism APRM team for the deligent and excellent work that lead the the successful completion of Country self Assessment Report CSAR process in Nigeria
The Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation Boss Mustapha, gave this commendation on Thursday in Abuja during the FCT town hall meeting and Final Validation of the Country Self-Assessment Report of the Federal Republic of Nigeria commended the APRM team for good job that will help Nigeria.
SGF Boss who was Represented by Director International Organisation, Political and Economic Affairs, office of the SGF, Mrs Victoria Agbor, said validation with relevant stakeholders in the Abuja, being the seat of government was very key in the CSAR process.
According to him, The Town Hall Meeting is geared towards interacting with relevant stakeholders at all echelon grassroots with the view to gather inputs for a credible and error free report Country self Assessment Report
“I want to use this occasion to commend the entire team for their selfless service on the reviews.
“APRM being the brain child of AUDA-NEPAD has the mandate to promote, monitor and assess the implementation of developmental programmes and policies for the enthronement of good governance, ” Mustapha said.

In her opening addressed, the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency (AUDA)-a new partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in Nigeria Princess Gloria Akobundu have said that the data generated in all the consultations including this Town Hall Meeting during the APRM review process will strengthen the new National Programme of Action (NPoA) for sustainable economic growth and development.

She revealed that Country Self-Assessment Report is based on facts and statistics in line with the guideline of the Country Review Process.

Princess Akobundu commended President Muhamadu Buhari and other relevant stakeholders for their courageous and exemplary leadership as well as support and approval for the conduct of the Second Peer Review Process of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to her, the data generated in all the consultations including this Town Hall Meeting will strengthen the new National Programme of Action (NPoA) for sustainable economic growth and development.

“The primary objective of the APRM is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional and continental economic integration.

“This could be achieved through experience sharing, reinforcement of successful best practices, including identifying deficiencies and assessment of requirements for capacity building. It also has obligation to Track, Monitor, Assesses and report on the impact of the implementation of AU Agenda 2063, SDGs and UN Agenda 2030 on Socio-Economic Development for quality leadership.

“The journey of the Second Review of Nigeria commenced on the 8th of March 2019 at the instance of Mr President’s kind approval.

“As you are aware, the APRM was established in 2003 by Heads of State and Government of African Union as a unique accountability method for African countries to review each other’s governance and hold the Member States accountable. The Mechanism is an innovative and bold attempt by Africa to improve the governance and the well-being of all citizens.

“The Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR) is a justification of the data collected through administration of Review Questionnaire by the National Governing Council (NGC) to the public and private sectors including the critical sectors both virtually and physically, which is among the requirements for effective country self-assessment.

“The AU-APRM Review Process is carried out based on a Country’s performance in four thematic areaDemocracy and Political Governance (DPG) Economic Management and Governance (EMG) Corporate Governance (CG) and Socio-Economic Development (SED)”

She added that Mr President and the Federal Executive Council approved the Country Self –Assessment Report for Validation by Country Review Mission on the 23rd of June 2021 in line with the guideline of the AU-APRM review process and road map.

“The Validation Exercise is all-inclusive at different levels and sectors, and today marks the completion of the Validation exercise of our dear Country Self-Assessment Report.

On his own addressed, the National Governing Council NGC Chairman Senator Abba Ali said Country Self-Assessment Report is based on facts and statistics in line with the guideline of the Country Review Process.

“The APRM Review Process is based on a country’s performance. The overall, process seeks to entrench good governance practices in participating states by deepening the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, integrity, respect for human rights, and promotion of rule of law, in order to create an enabling environment for sustainable development.

“It is of reality that the process has been transparent and credible in line with the Review guideline and policy. Your inputs will strengthen the formulation of the new National Programme of Action (NPoA) which will be implemented at all levels.”

He urged stakeholders to lend their voice in the final face to enable undiluted process and error-free Country Self-Assessment Report for Nigeria.Meanwhile every nook and cranny of the country was touched as FCT Abuja climaxed the review

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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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