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NYSC To Partner NALDA On Farming, Creation Of Value Chain

Published

5 years ago

October 23, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The National Youth Service Corps has declared its readiness to partner with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority in its effort of achieving food security in Nigeria.

The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim stated this in his office in Abuja when the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne paid him a courtesy visit.

General Ibrahim disclosed that the NYSC introduced Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme into its Orientation Course content in 2012 as a way of empowering the youths with skills and instilling in them an entrepreneurial spirit in order to gain financial freedom, thus — reducing the rate of unemployment among them.

He added that the Scheme mobilizes over 300,000 Corps Members annually, who, while in the camp are exposed to the different skills offered by skill programs which make them self-reliant, as well as employers of labour.

Gen Ibrahim further disclosed that beyond the impartation of skills to the Corps Members during the Orientation programme, they are equally granted credit facilities to start their own businesses, revealing that many of the ex – Corps Members have become employers of labour, running thriving and verifiable businesses today, contributing immensely to the country’s GDP.

The NYSC Chief Executive used the forum to appeal to State Governors to allocate lands to the NYSC for agriculture to remain germane to the nation’s economic diversification.

“We will cooperate with you because we want to leverage on Agro – business opportunities with relevant stakeholders so as to boost our revenue profile'”, the DG assured the Executive Secretary.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Prince Paul Ikonne said the agency is seeking partnership with the NYSC towards the implementation of the Federal Government’s agenda to ensure food security and diversify the national economy.

He described the NYSC as a veritable platform to harness the skills of Corps Members for national development, adding that NALDA has designed a programme, titled; “National Young Famers Scheme”, which would avail Corps Members of the opportunity to be actively engaged in agricultural training in a conducive environment with the necessary incentives.

The Executive Secretary said the value – chain programme would expose Corps Members to modern agricultural practices from land preparation, planting, harvesting, marketing to Agro-Engineering.

“For Nigeria to achieve food sufficiency, NALDA must play its role and NYSC is the only organization that has the pool of young men to achieve that purpose”, Ikonne concluded.

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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.”

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