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Speedy Passage Of Nasarawa Youth Bill Will Address Social Vices-Actionaid
Country Director, Actionaid Nigeria Mrs. Ene Obi, has called for the speedy passage of the Nasarawa Youth Bill saying that it would address social vices in the state.
Obi, represented by the Director, Organizational Effectiveness, Actionaid Mrs. Funmilayo Oyefusi, made this known in Abuja on Friday.
The event was an Advocacy Roundtable Discussion on Nasarawa Youth Development Commission Bill (NYDCB) with the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Members.
Obi noted that future of Nasarawa state was dependent on the actualisation and realisation of the bill.
She said that the Nasarawa Youth Development Commission Bill had gone through the first reading before the floor of the house.
“Nasarawa State Youth today, require a legal framework for proper engagement, empowerment, and development, more than ever.
“Overtime, there have been series of continued effort by government and other development partners in carrying out various youth empowerment and development initiates in Nasarawa State.
“This has however not been structured or monitored closely for effectiveness and efficiency, given lack of political will to drive the process.
Obi added that there had also been diverse call for youth integration and involvement in decision making process of the state.
She said that the commission if established would provide a framework for structured youth engagement.
“ If established it will also strengthen the state government’s efforts and those of other development partners in ensuring that Nasarawa state youth receive all the necessary political and policy backing to engender their continued role in governance.
“Thereby, addressing all basic social vices that makes youth vulnerable to radicalisation and violent extremism.
Also, Resilience Programme Coordinator, Actionaid, Mr Anicetus Atakpu, said the organisation embarked on the project in two states of Kogi and Nasarawa State to help youths find their track.
Atakpu said the project, running in six Local Government Areas (LGA) of Nasarawa state to include Toto, Nasarawa, Akwanga, Nasarawa Egon, Lafia and Obi would address human security in conflict and emergency area of the organization’s plan
“ The bill is dear to our heart mostly because it is a bill that addresses the key primary areas of extremism as identified by our project that we are working on which centered around unemployment literacy and marginalization.
“And this is centered on provision of the bill. The bill if passed into law will address salient issues of job creation and harness great opportunities for investment.
“It also gives opportunity for the establishment of technical schools across each senatorial district which is a big win for everyone because illiteracy is not all about been educated in western education but also your ability to utilise the skills.”
Meanwhile, Hon. Nehemiah Dandaura, Deputy Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly said that coming up with the bill was a developmental stride while calling on members to see to it that the bill see the light of the day.
“I am a youth friendly legislator. So many thought about the recent Endsars protests led to the support for the bill.
“If we can have something like a commission that will have to do with youth activities, it will alleviate poverty and most of the youths will be engaged.
“Looking at our society we see that youths are graduating every day from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education and these youths are flooding the streets.
“So I feel that if the commission bill is signed into law, it will cut down lots of these issues and also relieve the youth sector from unemployment, he said.
NAN
Featured
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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