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Team Nigeria Dazzles in an Electrifying Day 2 at CAA U18/U20 Athletics Championship

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Joel Ajayi 


Under the watchful eyes of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Day 2 of the ongoing CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championship lit up with Nigerian brilliance on home soil at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.


It was a clean sweep in the girls’ 100m U-18 final as Team Nigeria asserted its dominance sweeping all medals in the category. Miracle Ezechukwu blazed to gold in 11.88secs, as she was followed closely by Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96secs), captain of the Invited Junior Athletes at the 22nd National Sports Festival, while Miriam Jegede clinched bronze with 12.20secs, completing a historic podium takeover.


The momentum carried into the U-20 girls’ 100m final, where Nigeria bagged gold and silver. Chioma Nweke stormed to first place in 11.65secs, followed by Success Oyibu with 11.78secs.

Although Nigeria’s third finalist, Chiamaka Nwankwo, narrowly missed the podium, she showed great promise, finishing fourth in 11.98secs.


In the boys’ category, Nigeria kept the flag flying with two bronze medals. Clifford Igbigbidje clocked 10.89secs in the U-18 100m final, while John Caleb’s 10.61secs finish earned him bronze in the U-20 final. Both races were fiercely contested, with South Africa taking gold and silver in both events.


Capping off a thrilling day, Nigeria triumphed in the U-20 Mixed 4x400m Relay. In a race that swung back and forth, Nigeria’s anchor, Favour Onyah, held firm and surged ahead to secure gold after South Africa’s anchor stumbled near the finish. That victory sealed Nigeria’s third gold of the day, following the earlier wins in the girls’ 100m U-18 and U-20 events.


Dignitaries including CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, athletics legend Chief Segun Odegbami, Olympian Mary Onyali, and other key stakeholders were in attendance, joining thousands of spirited fans who turned out to witness the future of African athletics.

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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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