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SWAN Organises ‘Catch Them Young’ Seminar For Uniabuja Students

Published

5 years ago

March 25, 2021

The Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) Abuja chapter, on Tuesday, organized a ‘Catch them young’ seminar for University of Abuja students on how to build a successful career in accounting.

The seminar, which had students from the Faculty of Management Science in attendance, was part of SWAN’s measures to build the choice of professional accounting career in the minds of the younger generation.

Mrs Adeola Ojo, Chairperson, SWAN, Abuja chapter, noted that the catch them young initiative is designed with special accounting examination courses for students to prepare them for professional ICAN exams.

She added that the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) would enable youngsters have a head start in their accounting career before graduating.

“We want the students to know that they can easily become chartered accountants, starting from the lowest point, that is why we tagged this program, catch them young.

“Because instead of them starting from the professional level, you can start from the Accounting Technicians Scheme of West Africa (ATSWA) and with that certificate, you can work as an accounting officer.

“And it will also make it easier for them to move to the professional level,” she said.

Ojo added that the certificate would benefit the students as it is recognised in all countries in West Africa.

Dr Abdulrasheed Balogun, Vice Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Abuja and District Society, added that various life-changing opportunities abound in the accounting profession.

“There are many opportunities in the accountancy profession, depending on one’s choice and area of interest.

“As an accountant, you can work in anywhere, I mean anywhere that money passes through, starting from academics, you can be a lecturer in accounting, you can be a bursar in academic, you can be a bursar, you can be a chief accountant

“Then when you go to private sector, you can work in the banking industry, you can work as a chief finance office, you can work in an audit firm, you can also work in any government establishment,” he said.

He however called on parents to always support their children career choices, so that they could become useful to the society and the nation at large.

One of the participants, Mr Bernard Chinemelum, a 300 level student of Business Administration, added that the seminar had exposed him to a lot of benefits in the accounting field.

“The training have made us understand that we can be a chartered accountant, even without studying accounting as an undergraduate and I have decided to enrol for the course,” he said.

The event featured quiz competition among students of Accounting, Banking and Finance and Business Administration, all in the same faculty.

NAN.

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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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