Connect with us

Featured

Nigeria At The Risk Of Economic Recession In 2020 –Governor Yari

Published

on

Nigeria At The Risk Of Economic Recession In 2020 –Governor Yari

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Abdulaziz Yari has said Nigeria risked another round of recession between 2020/2021.

To this end, he said the newly elected governors should brace up for the challenges to be posed by such development.

Yari, who is also the Zamfara state governor, said this Monday at the opening ceremony of induction of new and returning governors, organized by the NGF Secretariat in Abuja.

He said due to the drop in the price of crude oil from 114 to 75 dollar per barrel in the mid of 2014, it became very difficult for many states to even pay salaries.

“This scenario is a wake-up call for all of you to come amply prepared to face these kinds of challenges, especially since we are expecting the possibility of another cycle of recession by the mid-2020.

“This may last up to the third quarter of 2021. Your good spirit of stewardship will make you contain the situation should there be one.

“Also, as members of the National Economic Council, you must work hand in hand to boost the economy in tandem with the global best practices,’’ the governor said.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his numerous interventions that saved the states from debilitating economic challenges, as well as the exit of the nation’s economy from recession.

He said at a point, 27 states were experiencing difficulty in settling their workers’ monthly salaries, development of infrastructure and effective service delivery.

“Mr. President’s intervention through bailouts from the capital market through the Central Bank of Nigeria, infrastructure development funds, anchor borrowers’ programme, budget support, London and Paris Clubs refunds have significantly saved the situation,’’ he said.

Yari, however, said states needed to work harder to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and enable them execute more projects and reduce over-dependence on the federation account.

He also advised governors to look inward by boosting their revenue generation and also utilise the accruing revenue to execute projects that would touch the lives of the ordinary people.

“You must not forget the high expectations of our people on us; now that the democracy is maturing day in day out, the challenges of governance and service delivery are more demanding.’’

The NGF chairman lauded the current administration’s focus on agriculture, including anchor borrowers’ programme through which about N200 billion had been expended.

But the sum, the governor said, was inadequate if Nigeria must satisfactorily tackle the issue of insecurity in the country.

He said Nigeria needed to go to the next level by slamming high import tariff on other agricultural products, particularly maize and wheat in order to boost their production and provide raw materials for local industries.

 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Featured

Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

on

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.”

Continue Reading

Trending

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)