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MEDIA REPORTAGE OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA PLAGUED BY SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES – NUJ

Published

5 years ago

September 26, 2020

Stakeholders in the media industry have attributed the difficulties and frustration faced by journalists and media workers in the fight against corruption to the deliberate efforts by politicians and government targeted at reducing the power of journalists in society.

This position was unanimously arrived at during a special town hall meeting against corruption, organized by Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, with the support of MacArthur Foundation on Thursday in Abuja.

The well-attended event was used to situate the media in its place in the fight against corruption, and address the challenges of upholding integrity by professionals in the media trade. As well as celebrate the virtues of the WINNER of 2018 INTEGRITY ICON AWARDS, BUKOLA ADEWUNMI, an Investigative journalist working with NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA (NAN).

In his submission, the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Christopher Isiguzo said one of the major challenges facing the media profession in the country is deliberate infiltration by politicians who are now owners of several media houses and outfits.

According to him, “these politicians have reasons why they set up their platforms, while the practitioners or journalists have their own idea, and when there is a clash of interest, oftentimes, the interest of the owner takes pre-eminence and that is a problem.”

Isiguzo also pointed out that besides political influence, journalists are poorly remunerated, poorly equipped, and lack health insurance schemes.

In a similar vein, NUJ Chairman, Abuja Council, Emmanuel Ogbeche lamented that there is a conspiracy by politicians and elites to economically impoverish and undermine journalists and media due to the power it wields.
The poor state of affairs has made it impossible for journalists to function more effectively in their resistance and reportage of corruption, he said.

His words:” Without making excuses for myself and colleagues, I think society has conspired to institute poverty in the media because politicians and elites understand the power of the media, the conspiracy is let there be economic poverty. If we impoverish the journalist, then we can undermine the system and bring them in as collaborators in weakly our democracy and instituting corruption and getting away with the abuse of rule of law.”

He advocated for legislation on the remuneration of journalists, stressing that the likes of Bukola Adewunmi will always be in short supply if the media space continues to operate in a way that the economic wellbeing of journalists is not guaranteed.

In his intervention on the challenge of journalists in fighting corruption, the Director-General, Daily Trust Foundation, Dr. Theophilus Abah faulted all arms of government for their silence on several corruption reports churned out on a daily basis by media houses.

His words: “The people in authority are not interested in what you do, they are not interested in accountability and transparency and that is a major problem.

“In investigative report, one of the problems we face is that, after we struggle and gone around to gather all we need to publish our story, you expect the National Assembly, and anti-graft agencies to take it up, unfortunately, nobody will do anything,” Dr. Abah lamented

While, the Editor at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Hamzat Ajibola, added” in the last two months, ICIR has sent two hundred different FOI requests to government agencies asking them to provide details of their capital spending between 2015 and now, but the response we have got is less than 20%.

“As an investigative journalist, the material of your work is the evidence and cannot be manufactured. Every side you go to you have a brick wall which is a serious challenge that faces the media,” Ajibola said.

Lending her voice to the issue, the Head of News at 99.9 Kiss FM Abuja, Ayoade Olatokewa, stated that the foundation molds a journalist’s morality, integrity, and discipline. She said many media practitioners have had to diversify to other legitimate means of income in order to avoid the brown envelope syndrome.

“The terrain we find ourselves as journalists in Nigeria is far different out there, you need to do something to support your job if you want to pay bills,” she said.

Meanwhile, earlier in the program, Bukola Adewunmi revealed that she has continued to enjoy the respect of people around her after winning the 2018 Integrity Icon Award organized by Accountability Lab Nigeria.

Speaking on phone from Lagos, Adewunmi said: “It has been a very good story to tell. With the name “Integrity Icon”, everybody looks up to you and I have encountered a lot of people who say “I wish I could be like you.”
The PRIMORG’S Radio Town Hall Against Corruption series is supported by the MacArthur Foundation

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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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