Featured

Minister Of FCT Inaugurates State Community Policing adevisory Committee

Published

5 years ago

June 1, 2020

….Task Members on Winning The Trust of Communities

Joel Ajayi

As part of government efforts towards reducing crime rate in the Federal Capital Territory, the Honourable Minister of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Monday 1st of June, inaugurated the FCT State Community Policing Advisory Committee (SCPAC)with a call on members to be guided by the principles of natural justice and the laws of Nigeria.

While inaugurating the 17-member committee headed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, the Minister also urged members of the committee to be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties. He also reminded them that the concept of community policing was anchored on a premise of trust between the people and security agents. A trust which, he said, must not fall short if the objective of the policy is to be achieved.

According to him, once there is a trust deficit in any guise or form, the workability of this policy becomes highly diminished and we would have lost a great opportunity in improving the security profile of the Territory”.

Speaking on the selection of special constabulary for community policing, the Minister added, “it is necessary that during the selection of those that will serve as members of the special constables, at whatever level this selection is being done, it must be fair, just and equitable”.

Malam Bello said those selected should be provided with basic training required for the job. He also advocated for a robust feedback and monitoring mechanism on the performance of those appointed to assigned tasks within the communities.

He also called for the confidentiality of investigations and protection of informants.

While giving an overview of the functions of State Community Policing Advisory Committees, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Community Policing), Mr Bala Senchi said the SCPAC was the highest advisory body on community policy in a state. According to him, the implementation of the policy will be cascaded down to the grassroots through the State Community Policing Committee, Area Command Community Policing Advisory Committee, Local Government Community Policing Advisory Committee, the Divisional Community Policing Committee and the Special Constabulary.

In his address to the occasion, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General Police in charge of operations, Alh. Abdulmajid Ali said Community Policing will bring back communalism in the communities which he said had been lacking for a long time.

He also commended the FCT Administration for taking the laudable step of embracing community policing as a method of checking crime in the FCT.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of other committee members, the FCT Police Commissioner Bala Ciroma who is also the Co-Chairman of the Committee said the Committee members accepted the responsibility and promised they will deliver on the mandate assigned to them.

Members of the FCT State Community Policing Advisory Committee are:

i. CP Bala Ciroma – Chairman

ii. HRH Adamu Baba Yunusa- Onah of Abaji

iii. Senator Phillip T. Aduda- Senator representing the FCT

iv. Rev. Dr Samson Jonah- Chairman, FCT Christian Association of Nigeria

v. Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun- Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative

vi. The Commander, Army HQ Garrison, Abuja

vii. The Commander, Guards Brigade, Abuja

viii. The Commander, Naval Unit, Abuja

ix. The Commander, 053 NAF Camp, Abuja

x. State Director, Department of State Service, Abuja

xi. The Comptroller, Nigeria Correctional Services

xii. The Commandant, NDLEA, FCT Command

xiii. The Commandant, NSCDC, FCT Command

xiv. The Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Services, Abuja

xv. The Sector Commander, FRSC, FCT Command

xvi. The Director Security Services Department, FCTA

xvii. Chief Bolaji Adigun – Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee.

Share on Facebook

Featured

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.”

Share on Facebook