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Stakeholders call for collaboration to bridge learning gaps in schools

Published

6 years ago

June 7, 2019

Funmi Lawrence

Stakeholders in the education sector have called for collaboration among schools to bridge the learning gaps, thereby increasing quality of education in Nigeria.

They made the submission on Friday at the 2019 Exposure Conference organised by Portsbridge Educational Services Ltd. in Abuja.

The conference which has its theme as: “Rethinking Teaching and Learning” was aimed at exploring various approaches to teaching and learning in the 21st century classroom.

Contributing, Dr Stella Ozigi-Adagiri, the Founder, Portsbridge Educational Services, said that there was need to bridge the gap between different levels of educational provision.

Ozigi-Adagiri said this was aimed at attainment of effective learning and teaching outcomes in schools.

“In the private sector, there are lots of gaps there; there are schools that are very privileged and our main aim is to see how we can encourage collaboration among schools so that we can bridge the learning gaps and the gaps in terms of quality.

“Most schools are almost like a failed system, they don’t have qualified teachers, and so there is a way private sectors can actually strengthen that gap by helping to collaborate.

“What we do is to provide training for teachers as educators, and we also provide opportunities for youths to actually develop themselves.

“We need to stop producing students that will be looking for jobs; rather, we are to be producing students that are entrepreneurs and can be useful for the growth and development of the country,” she said.

Also, Dr Tunde Adekola, a Senior Education Specialist with the World Bank, called for inclusive education for the Nigerian child.

According to him, coming to school is not as important as ensuring that children complete schooling, and completing schooling is not as important as learning itself.

“I want to see connection between teaching and learning; there should be a value addition to students who are in schools.

“The issue of rethinking is very apt in this season where we are having learning crisis. We should continue to dialogue.

“For some years now, efforts have been to get many children in schools.

“There is still room to bring more children who are marginalised to make education more inclusive and ensure students in the rural areas are in schools,” he said.

Adekola, however, called for partnership between state actors and non-state actors to come on board and take urgent action to maximise the benefits derived in terms of teaching.

He said teachers should be equipped adequately to give their best and get the right teaching outcomes in our schools.

In her remarks, Mrs Georgina Ikechi-Madu, a teacher from Elisangels Model School, FCT, Abuja, urged stakeholders in the education sector to meet up with the level of technological development through teaching.

Ikechi-Madu said that teaching should be made interesting for real life experiences as the world had shifted away from the old way of learning to learning through technology.

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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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