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NDLEA, PRIMORG Take Advocacy Against Drugs To FCT Public Schools.
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, have warned youths, especially students, to ‘stay away’ from illicit drugs and psychotropic substances.
The warning is in continuation of PRIMORG’s recently flagged off Drug Demand Reduction campaign tagged “Safe Without Drugs (SWiD) Initiative” at Government Secondary School, Apo, FCT – Abuja, on Friday, 23 February 2024.
In his remark, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lamented the devastating consequences of early drug abuse, which includes mental illness, academic failure and societal disorder, while commending PRIMORG for the initiative.
He noted that the sensitization against drug abuse in schools cannot be over-emphasized, given the magnitude of the drug problem in the country. One of the significant difficulties Nigerians who abuse drugs are facing is that treatment for substance use disorder is not readily available and is very expensive.
Staff Officer Sensitisation, Drug Demand and Reduction Directorate NHQs Abuja Superintendent of Narcotics Owonubi Gbenga represented Marwa.
NDLEA, however, sensitized the senior secondary students on “understanding the concept of drug abuse or drug misuse; the magnitude of the drug problem in our society; and the signs, symptoms of drug effects and coping skills.
Owonubi also introduced the Safe Without Drugs Initiative/ War Against Drug Abuse (SWiD/WADA) club to the students and management of the school as an avenue to continue the advocacy against drug abuse among students.
Representative of FCT Secondary School Board, Haj. Hadiza Mohammed commended PRIMORG for the SWiD Initiative while joining calls for students to shun drug abuse outrightly.
Mohammed assured that the campaign against drug abuse is something the government will not stop and is serious about advocating against drug use and enlightening the students about it.
Warning the students against abusing drugs, Mohammed said, “Drug abuse starts with an addiction, and addiction is a monster. It will destroy you, tear you apart and later laugh at you, making you useless to society. It will put your psychological being at stake and endanger your parents in terms of rehabilitating you as a drug abuse victim”.
She encouraged the students not to keep quiet but to speak up when they see drug abusers, stressing the need to spread the campaign against drug consumption to neighbourhoods, friends and even to parents and guardians.
Earlier, PRIMORG’s Programme Manager, Dr Adaobi Obiabunmuo, hailed the partnership between the NDLEA, FCT Secondary School Board and the management of Government Secondary School, Apo, FCT.
Obiabunmuo, while joining others to urge students to stay away from drug abuse completely. She disclosed that the SWiD Initiative targets students, primarily the senior secondary in a bid to teach them the negative impact of illicit use of drugs and better shape their future.
Other speakers during the programme warned the students against getting close to drugs as it will truncate their future ambitions and goals.
It will be recalled that PRIMORG launched the SWiD Initiative about a fortnight ago at Excellent Kiddies Academy, Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The advocacy possesses a wide range of programmes and activities meant to address the multifaceted problems of drug abuse in Nigeria.
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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles
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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