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Understanding Of Organic Agriculture Principles, Practices Low In Nigeria – Stakeholders

Published

6 years ago

October 26, 2019

Stakeholders in organic Agriculture have said that a lot of advocacies and awareness campaigns are needed for farmers to understand the benefits of organic agriculture’s principles and practice for increased harvests

The stakeholders said this in a communiqué released on Friday in Abuja, at the end of the 2019 National Organic Agriculture Business Summit held in Lagos with the theme: Organic export opportunities for national development.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Dr Olugbenga AdeOluwa, the Country Coordinator, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) and Prof. Victor Olowe, the President, Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria.

The stakeholders in the communiqué said “the activities of Organic Agriculture platforms in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for policy formulation and implementation were at low ebb compared to the size of the country.

They said that the understanding of possible business opportunities from organic agriculture was poor among potential stakeholders, saying there was also a huge technical knowledge gap of organic agriculture production system in the country.

The stakeholders observed that extension services to facilitate organic agriculture in the country were almost nonexistent while sourcing of organic inputs in the country was still very challenging.

They said that organic agriculture farmers in Nigeria had a poor awareness of the required procedures for certification of organic produce and products for both domestic and export trade.

According to them, there is a very limited enabling environment for organic agriculture business development in the country and that there is, therefore, the need for a holistic engagement of youths and women in organic agriculture for “meaningful economic participation’’.

The stakeholders called for increased Nigerian organic market share in terms of produce, products, and services in the global market, noting that Nigeria was yet to achieve a remarkable share in the current global organic market of over 100 billion dollars.

They said there was need for more science-based evidence and facts through research to promote organic agriculture with appropriate funding to support the efforts of organic agriculture entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

“We have to mainstream organic agriculture into existing curricula for agricultural training at Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria,“ they said.

They, however, urged all tiers of government to fully explore opportunities in the African Heads of States and Governments’ Decision on Organic Farming (EX.CL/Dec.621 (XVII), 2010.

“To achieve this, relevant national organisations and international partners must provide entrepreneurial education on organic agriculture for all stakeholders in the agriculture value chain.”

The communiqué said “stakeholders should mainstream organic agriculture into the academic curricula of the HEIs in Nigeria for the development of technically sound faculty and workforce in the sector.”

They equally suggested that Agricultural Development Programmes and other extension service arms in the country should properly train their personnel to be able to assist farmers in overcoming challenges associated with organic agriculture production.

They called on public and private organisations with a mandate for organic agriculture to consistently train producers on certification and export procedures in organic agriculture.

The stakeholders called for appropriate policies to be put in place to provide an enabling environment for organic agriculture business development in the country, especially the Nigerian Organic Agriculture Bill that had been drafted since 2016.

“This bill could be pushed through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as an Executive Bill,’’ they advised.

According to the communiqué, 90 participants representing organic agriculture stakeholders from all the geo-political zones of Nigeria and the U.S. were in attendance.

The attendance represented a circle of investors in agricultural input supply, crop production, processing and packaging, consumers and representatives of government organizations.

Also represented were organisations related to agriculture, education (research and higher educational institutions), trade, health and environment, hotels and hospitality, supermarket operators, media practitioners, and civil rights organizations.

NAN

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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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