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GOV. UGWUANYI’S UNCOMMON BENEVOLENCE AND MAGNANIMITY TO THE VICTIMS OF EndSARS VIOLENCE

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2020

By Jeff Ejiofor

It is popularly said that when the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice. The recent setting up of a judicial panel of enquiry to ascertain the level of damage and losses from the EndSARS violence with a view to adequately compensating the victims is highly commendable and an act of benevolence by the Government of Enugu State.

This is about the first governor to initiate this bold step in the wake of the unfortunate EndSARS violence that rocked many states. His proactive and benevolent nature is immesurable and should be commended by all men of goodwill to serve as an encouragement to others.

When we say Enugu is in the hands of God, it is because we’re enjoying a purposeful and people oriented leadership. A leadership with its primary focus on the wellbeing and welfare of citizens.

Apparently, cynics and self styled critics of government will certainly not see any big deal in the prompt manner with which the governor responded to this issue, but objective and rational reasoning acknowledge this lofty efforts.

Whether anybody likes it or not, Enugu State is lucky to have a godly man at the helm of affairs. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is godly and nobody can take it away from him, even his detractors know that. It’s a well known fact that most states affected by this problem have not made any tangible efforts at addressing the plight of the victims as Ugwuanyi has done. This is indeed a responsible leadership from a benevolent man with a very large heart.

In addition to instituting a framework to address the affected victims of the violence, Gov. Ugwuanyi has also proactively taken steps to repair and replace damaged infrastructure.

Rural Electrification Agency has been directed by the governor to immediately restore the traffic and street lights damaged in the process of the violence. It’s my pleasure to note here that they have swung into action and some of them are now functional again. Even the temporary bus stops destroyed are now being replaced by more quality and durable ones.

The city monuments errected at some strategic places such as Otigba Roundabout are being fixed to restore the beauty of Enugu. Even some road demarcating protectors installed to enhance traffic control in busy areas destroyed by hoodlums during the crisis are also receiving prompt attention.

His Excellency has equally taken steps to address some of the issues affecting the youths which were raised during the protest. In the area of empowernment, the governor has stepped up efforts to provide more funds and opportunities to boost SME in the state.

A lot of new policies and schemes have been introduced in this regard and many people are availing themselves of the opportunity presented by that. Recall also that at the begining of the protest, Ugwuanyi set up a panel of enquiry with quality membership which included the youths, to look into the issues raised and profer solution.

The committee have since commensed sitting and are contributing immensely in providing policy framework that will address most of the grievances tabled by the youths during the EndSARS protest. Only few governors in Nigeria have been able to articulate this line of action. It takes a governor with the interest of the people at heart to do that and Ugwuanyi is the man.

Incidentally, this display of magnanimity and call to duty by the governor is not trending because naysayers and self acclaimed social media critics are only interested in his perceived shortcomings. They are not always comfortable with the popular and people oriented policies which have become the hallmark of his administration.

The work as designated by their paymasters is to continually scoop social media space and evening beer palour gatherings in search of unfounded and damaging criticisms to deceive the public. They can never report issues of critical importance addressed by the governor. His Excellency’s inroads in social and educational sectors do not matter to them. His upward adjustment of Enugu workers’ salary to be at par with national average which has put on him a huge wage bill for the first time in the history of Enugu State mean nothing to them. Even the award of scholarships to Enugu students for further studies in both foreign and local institutions of higher learning is of no significance to such group of people.

The provision of road and health infrastructure in the rural areas to enhance the quality of lives of rural dwellers as is being aggressively pursued by this administration is of no use to them. The only thing that matters in their world of illusion is construction of flyovers around Enugu whether such is necessay or not. Most of them complain of not being settled with appointment after campaigning for the governor. Some even said he has not addressed the overall problems of Enugu State people including providing daily bread for every citizen.

Only God knows if any government in this world, including the ones of advanced societies have ever been able to satisfy human and societal needs or wants. I personally see such critics as dubiously mischevious. They manipulate the obtainable realities to confuse the gullible into believing in the existence of an utopian perfection.

In conclusion, let me succinctly advise us to appreciate good works so as to expect more. An Igbo adage taught us that whenever we appreciate and commend goodwill, we have chances of receiving more, ‘ eto dike n’ nke omelu, omekwa ozo’. It is explicit that Ugwuanyi is irrevocably committed to good and responsible governance geared towards uplifting the living standard of Enugu people. What we owe him as a people is our support, as well as prayers to continue serving us better. Dalu ezigbo onye ndu chukwu kwadolu, we are solidly behind you.

Enugu is in the hands of God.

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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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