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Go to politics for positive impacts, Tallen charges women

Published

5 years ago

March 18, 2021

The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, has charged women aspiring to go into politics not to put money at the expense of contributing to positive changes in society.
Tallen made this known on Thursday at the African Young Female Appointees and Women with Disabilities in Politics Convergence in Abuja.

The minister was represented by Dr. Anthonia Ekpa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry at the event commemorating International Women’s Day with a focus on challenging the issues young women face in governance and politics.

Tallen encouraged the women to dissociate themselves from notion that politics is a money-making enterprise, but focus on meeting the education, health and social needs of the people.
According to her, being in governance is making your name not by what you have but by what you are and what you can do for others.

“The most important thing is for women to embrace passion and vision and not about money when coming into governance.

“Women who are going into politics must ensure they put to bear the needs of the society.
“There needs to be addressed are lack of education for our children, poor health system, lack of water, bad roads and so many other things.

“The politicians are like public servants who are to serve the people. So, you must come with the responsibility of changing a lot of others instead of having the mind of making money,” she said.
Tallen revealed that the ministry had set up a situation room to carry out a study on the number of women involved in politics in Nigeria.

Also, Mrs Abiodun Essiet, President, African Young Female Appointees Initiative (AYFAI) decried the percentage of women involved in politics, saying that there was need for more women.

“The percentage of women in politics is worrisome. We are nowhere close to where we are supposed to be in women representatives.

“Though women have the challenge of trying to build their careers and families in relation to sustaining governance, we need to do more by advocating for more women in politics.”

She, however, called for an enabling environment for young women and those with disabilities to get into politics.

Also, Adaora Onyechere, National Secretary, AYFAI, added there was the need to consider developing the next generation of girls to attain sustainable development as a country.
“Women should become deliberate about structures in political parties by getting involved.

“There is need for the government to maintain the 35 per cent affirmative for women to be involved in politics.

“For us here, we are not calling for something unusual but calling for something immediate,” she said.
Also, Mrs. Lois Auta, from the Network of Disabled Women, said it was time women began to challenge the status quo by coming up with action plans for women’s inclusiveness in politics.

She stressed the need for young women and women with disabilities to participate fully in government programs and politics so as to meet the needs of the group.

Mrs. Tari Oliver, Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Women in Agriculture encouraged women to yearn for service to impact other women.

Oliver described women as managers of resources, hence their participation in politics would go a long way in bringing development to every sector of society.

Equally, Dr. Tunji Asaolu, Country Representative, African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC), called on women to create space where their voices would be heard.

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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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