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LSFA: Akinwunmi unveils 4-point agenda

Published

6 years ago

May 28, 2019

LSFA: Akinwunmi unveils 4-point agenda

Basking in the euphoria of his recent victory at the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) Chairmanship election, Seyi Akinwunmi, said that the focal point of his administration would be re-positioning Eko Football.

Akinwunmi gave insight into what would be the focal points of his administration in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said that he would introduce a 21st century model of administration to the association through digitisation of its operations.

Akinwunmi, an astute football administrator, on Monday got another mandate to propel the administration of football in Lagos State for the next four years.

He emerged winner in a close contest with another football administrator, Liameed Gafar, who he defeated with nine votes to four in an election decided at the Morning Side Suites, Taslim Elias Close, Lagos Island.

Akinwunmi told NAN that he would run an all-inclusive government to achieve his goal of moving football to an enviable height in Lagos State.

“The next phase of my project in Lagos State is to complete the good works that we have started. People are yet to realise where we started from, they think football is just flowing.

“If they have to dig deep, they will realise where we started from, but for us, it is time for the state to reap the benefits of what we have laboured for in the past years,’’ he said.

Akinwunmi said that his administration had a four-point agenda, which included digitalisation of LSFA, strong football structures among others.

“The first project is the digitalisation of the FA administration all through from the Divisional Football Association (DFA) to the Football Association (FA).

“We also want to look out for the structures as well. The current structure does not fit and cannot take us anywhere, we couldn’t do that before now because we needed to consolidate.

“Also, we cannot take the decision alone, we need to establish an administrative council that will encapsulate the board members and the DFAs so that we can meet once every quarter.

“We need to review issues and see what next to do,’’ the LSFA chairman-elect said.

He said that his administration would also seek to resuscitate the moribund grassroots football league and also propose a media workshop.

“The third agenda will be to establish a grassroots league and once that is done, football in Lagos State will be on auto-pilot because we would have created all the necessary incentives.

“We want to create a football on a business model, which will attract investors, doing this will take football to an enviable height.

“Also, we want to have a media seminar and workshop because we have realised the important role media is playing in the progress of football not just in administration but politics as well.

“This is football and we need to get our acts together, even if it means that we need to tell ourselves the home truth,” Akinwunmi said. (NAN)

NAN

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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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