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Sports Minister Host Victorious Wrestling, Rowing and Canoeing, commends  Athletes, Officials

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Sports Minister Host Victorious Wrestling, Rowing and Canoeing, commends  Athletes, Officials

…Tips Nigerian Wrestler to Shines in Toykyo 2020 

Joel Ajayi
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung on Tuesday in Abuja hosted victorious wrestlers and officials who did Nigeria proud at the African Championship recently held in Tunisia.

Also received are the officials and athletes of triumphant canoe team who shone like a million star at the just concluded Canoe Sprint Championship held in Bhopai, India.

To this end , Minister has predicted a successful outing for Nigerian wrestlers at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In his speech, Dalung noted that wrestling is proving to be one of the strongest sports in Nigeria adding that Nigerian wrestlers have distinguish themselves as a force to reckon with, thus giving the sport an enviable place of pride elevating the country’s image as a top wrestling Nation.

At the continental level, the Nigeria wrestling team placed first in Africa in overall African medals table during the 2015 all African Games held in Congo Brazaville.

In the same vein, the Federation dominated other African countries, particularly the women wrestling where they won the title as African champions at the 2018 African championships which Nigeria hosted for the first time. Furthermore, when Nigeria female wrestlers participated at the two-ranking series event in Germany and Bulgaria in February and March 2109 respectively, their performance was top-notch where Adeoye Adekuoroye was ranked 4th best wrestler in the World and first in Africa.

“Nigerian wrestlers have distinguished themselves as a force to reckon with, thus  giving the sport an enviable place of pride and elevating the country’s image as a top wrestling nation.

“The Nigerian wrestling team placed first in Africa on the overall medals table during the 2015 Africa Games held in Congo Brazzaville. Similarly, the Federation dominated other African countries, particularly in women’s wrestling, where they emerged African Champions at the 2018 Africa Championships which Nigeria hosted for the first time. When our female wrestlers participated in the two-ranking series events in Germany and Bulgaria in February and March 2019, their performances created an avenue for our star athlete, Adekuoroye Odunayo to be ranked 4th  in the world  and 1st  in Africa. This success, apart from writing a chapter in the annals of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation history, is an indicator of the possibility of an Olympic Medal in TokyoAlso, in canoeing at African Youth Games in Algeria in 2018, Nigeria topped the medals table for the sport of Canoeing and Kayak 4 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. Nigeria also won 3 gold and 1 silver medal at the West African Rowing Regatta.

The Federation recorded impressive performances in their international competitions for instance, two home based athletes qualified for the 2018 Youth Games in Argentina where Nigeria was ranked 7th in the world.

Dalung encouraged both Federations to continue to do Nigeria proud as he promised that Federal Government will not seize in discharging its own responsibility.

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

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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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