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Woman donates mosque to Ansar-ud-deen society in memory of her late husband

Published

2 years ago

March 4, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Hajia Nanaa Ann Usiagu-Muraina has built a mosque and donated it to the Ansar-ud-deen society of Nigeria in memory of her late husband, Major General Abdullahi Iyanda Muraina.

While commissioning the newly built mosque in Kubwa, Abuja, the National Deputy President of Ansar-ud-deen society of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf said the gesture will attract blessings to the deceased, his wife, his family and all who worship in the mosque.

“A Mosque is a place of worship, so thinking of building a mosque for Allah, you will get reward, and now the woman has built a mosque for her late husband, she will continue to get reward till eternity.

“So, it is very significant in Islam that whosoever comes to worship there, whatever prayer, goes to the man (her late husband).

“Islam is not stingy, whatever good you do, even thinking of it, you will get a reward, the husband will get a reward, the family will get reward, those that come to pray there will also get reward, so it is not restricted to the man alone, it is for everybody”, Alhaji Yusuf said.

Also, the Chief Imam of Ansar-ud-deen, Abuja branch, Associate Professor Musa Olaofe, while narrating the history of the mosque, said that Hajia Muraina had wanted to build a legacy for Allah to reward her late husband.

“The history of this mosque started when late General Muraina died and the wife asked what she can do that Allah can reward her husband, so she looked around and concluded to build a mosque in his name.

“When I was contacted, I told her that it is the best thing she can do, and she single-handedly built the mosque”, Olaofe said.

On her part, Hajia Usiagu-Muraina said the commissioning of the mosque was in honour of her late husband so that Allah can grant him Jannah tul firdous.

“We are here today to commission a mosque in honour of my late husband for almighty Allah to grant him Jannah tul firdous.

“I pray that at the end-of-life Allah will reunite us in Jannah, that is the ultimate I pray for.

“If I want to describe my husband in one word, I will describe him as a giver. He was a giver to everybody, and in his demise, I told myself that this person that has done so much for every other person, what can I give to him in return, that’s what brought about me building this mosque in his honour.

“He was a giver, a lover, he was my everything, my hero and a husband I could ever have imagined getting in this life. He was the best father to our children.

In her tribute to her late husband, Hajia Usiagu-Muraina said “As for me and my children, we could not have gotten a better husband and father than you. You were caring, protective, present even when on duty tours, tolerant and always ready to render a bit of advice on any issue”.

Speaking about her late father, Almira, a 9-year-old daughter of the deceased said “my father was nice and considerate, he was always there when we needed him and that is why I am glad that we have this mosque here.

In the same vein, Ayisha, a 7-year-old daughter of Late Major General Muraina said “he was there for us, he always joined us in all our family occasions to do everything. We built this mosque just to thank him for everything he has done.

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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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