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NYSC Seeks More Support From States, Others For Corps Members

Published

5 years ago

April 7, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The National Youth Service Corps NYSC has urged all the states government and local government areas in the country to keep on supporting corps members through provision of security, infrastructure and other welfares that will enable them serve their fatherland effectively and efficiently.

The Director General of the Scheme, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated this at the meeting of NYSC top management with representatives of states government held on Wednesday, in Abuja, with the theme: “Strengthening stakeholders’ support grassroots development initiatives for greater impact.”

In his opening remark, the NYSC Boss expressed that, the meeting is aimed at further strengthening the relationship with states government, the FCT Administration and local governments, whose roles remain critical to the smooth operations of the scheme.

According to him, this forum will review the decisions made at the previous meeting, and provide feedbacks on implementation by all participants and further strategies on the way forward.

“I am pleased to report that since the last meeting, a number of states have shown greater commitment to the statutory obligations of NYSC.

“We have witnessed increased interventions in the area such as, the upgrade of facilities in Orientation Camps, establishment of NYSC state governing board and local government agencies committee as well as payment of state allowances to corps members, amongst others.

“Therefore, I use this opportunity to express gratitude to the affected states for their support with the hope that they will maintain the tempo.

“On the other hand, there are states and LG whose performance leave much to be desired. Problems such as lack of permanent orientation camps, obsolete or inadequate facilities in the camps, lack of the shortage of Corpers’ lodges, inadequate office accommodation and non-release of the stator state subvention to the NYSC secretariat are being faced in such states. I appeal to those in this category to show more commitment to providing the enabling environment for smooth conduct of our operations.”

He added that: “One of the major issues this meeting will focus on is reinvigoration of NYSC grassroots development activities. Those familiar with our operations will attest to the fact that successive batches of corps members have always worked with host communities to address their needs through execution of projects that have now dotted the entire landscape of the country.

“The intervention of NYSC in community development is deliberate designed to be participatory in nature, with the Corps Members identifying felt needs, proffering solutions and mobilizing the community to provide resources for execution of planned projects.

“The essence of community participation is to instill in the people the culture of self-help as well as development of sense ownership of social amenities provided for them.”

He lamented dwindling level of support given to the corps members; “however the level of support for development activities of the scheme is dwindling; hence need to reawaken the consciousness of stakeholders on the need to give them the desire support.”

Declaring the event open, the FCT Minister Mallam Musa Bello, who was represented by Acting Secretary Area Council Secretariat, Mrs. Olanipekun Omolola said, the meeting is timely and appropriate because NYSC plays a prominent role in uplifting the living standard of Nigerians through its various programs.

“Indeed, it is always heartwarming to see the high rate of intervention by corps members who work with communities especially in the rural areas, to execute various development projects. However, ii understand that the level of public support for such development activities is warning thereby raising concern among stakeholders in the scheme.

“Therefore, I commend the NYSC management to table this as one of the key issues to be discussed at this meeting.”

Bello also, commended the NYSC contribution towards the fight against COVID-19 “the scheme contribution to the effort to contain COVID-19 pandemic is still fresh in our memory.

“We in FCT, like communities in other parts of country benefited from items such as face mask, hand sanitizer, liquid soap, automated and foot-operated water, sanitizer dispensers, and disinfection chambers produced and donated by corps members, amongst other interventions.

He expressed that FCT Administration will not relent in in discharging the statutory responsibilities to the scheme, especially through upgrade of facilities in the NYSC orientation camp as well as security and other welfare provisions for corps members.

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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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