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UGWUANYI: REMEMBERING 1983 ENUGU PLANE CRASH

Published

5 years ago

September 11, 2020

By Dr. Dons Eze

It was Monday morning, November 28, 1983. The harmattan season was on the air, and the Christmas breeze had also started to blow. As usual, a lot of people were in the upswing mood, moving up and down, looking forward to the great celebration.

In Enugu Coal City, that day, many residents had gone out for their normal daily businesses. Nobody was expecting or suspecting anything untoward. Then, came a news flash on the radio: “a Nigerian Airways plane on a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Enugu has crashed at Emene Airport” (the outskirts of Enugu Metropolis), as it was preparing to land.

Everybody was alarmed, shocked. Those who could make it hurriedly rushed to the scene of the incident. Behold, there was the ill-fated plane, and scores of its passengers, inside what looked like an unquenchable fire, burning ceaselessly, in a cassava farm. Some frantic efforts were made to salvage the situation, to put off the inferno, all to no avail. At the end of the day, 53 people were counted dead, while the plane itself was reduced to mere rubbles. It was a black day in Enugu.

The plane, a Forker-28-2000 aircraft was carrying 61 passengers, but crashed about 3.2 kilometers, short of the airport’s runway, and caught fire immediately, after a steep approach, due to poor visibility. Fifty-one, out of the 61 passengers on board the aircraft, and two crew members, were despatched to the world beyond. It was a horrific sight, a sorrowful event, very painful, and most regrettable.

Among some notable individuals who lost their lives in that tragic incident, was Josephine, daughter of the then Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Christian Onoh. She was said to be on a humanitarian mission, trying to help some little children trapped inside the aircraft, but did not make it.

There was also Uche Offiah-Nwali, flamboyant former Anambra State Commissioner for Social Welfare, who then was a serving member of the House of Representatives. She equally perished along with her five children.

News about the plane crash sent shock waves across the length and breadth of the country and threw many people into mourning. In the former Anambra State, which Enugu was then part of, government offices were ordered closed in honor of the victims of the crash.

The then Nigerian Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, in a special radio broadcast, described the crash as one of the worst air disasters in the history of Nigeria. He said that an inquiry would be instituted to investigate the cause of the accident.

Minister of Aviation, John Nnia Nwodo Jnr., flew into Enugu, to undertake a first-hand assessment of the situation, while Transport Minister, Umaru Dikko, also visited. Later, wreaths were laid at the graveside of the mass burial of the victims by some Nigerian dignitaries. That was where everything ended, no more, no less.

As typical with the Nigerian system, the people were soon to forget everything about the Emene crash. In other words, after the noises, the hullabaloos about the crash, nobody mentioned or remembered the tragic incident anymore, not the least, those who lost their lives and a few of its survivors.

Everything died down, completely forgotten, so to speak. The scene of the crash, which incidentally was the grave of the mass burial of the victims, returned to its former usage, a cassava farm.

Now, almost 37 years after that tragic incident that happened at Emene, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, remembered it, resurrected it, and brought it back to life, so as to honor the victims. He thought it wise that such horrific events of November 28, 1983, which brought sorrow, not only to Enugu people, but to Nigeria, and the world as a whole, should not be forgotten, obliterated, or buried in history.

Thus, shortly after the reopening/inauguration of the rehabilitated runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Sunday, August 31, 2020, Governor Ugwuanyi led dignitaries that attended the event, to unveil a newly reconstructed and beautified airport roundabout with a monumental aircraft statue in memory of the 51 passengers and two crewmen who lost their lives in the Emene air crash.

The Governor also unveiled a plaque where the names of all the victims of the air disaster were clearly engraved. What a commendable effort by a man with a deep sense of history!

With the unveiling of that monument in remembrance of the Emene air crash victims of November 28, 1983, the Governor has done well in reconstructing the history of Enugu. The history of any nation, or any society, is made up of both the good and the bad, the pleasant and the despicable. You cannot leave out any of them. Without these, the history of such a society will not be complete.

Following on the heels of this monument constructed for the Emene air crash victims, however, is also the need to build a memorial arcade for the 21 coal miners who were brutally killed at Iva Valley, Enugu, on November 18, 1949, by the British colonial police, for merely demanding a marginal increase in their salary.

The Iva Valley massacre was a tonic that ignited the fire of revolution for the country’s independence. It brought together nationalist politicians from all tribes and all creeds, who formed a united front against the evils of colonialism, with Enugu as the center of the struggle.

It was the Iva Valley massacre that quickened the departure of British colonialists from Nigeria, as Nigerian nationalists began to stoke fire on them and to demand immediate independence of the country.

It is, therefore, necessary that the people who played such a significant role in the history of a nation should be appropriately honored.

By Dr. Dons Eze

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

Published

4 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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