Chidi Onah official

29/09/2026

There are few things more profound than standing before a room filled with young minds and knowing that, for a brief moment, you have the privilege of influencing how they understand the world—and perhaps how they will one day change it.

That is what the classroom means to me.
Every time I teach, I am reminded that education is not merely the transmission of information. It is the cultivation of thought. It is about awakening curiosity, sharpening intellect, challenging assumptions, nurturing ideas, and giving young people the intellectual tools to interrogate the world around them.

A lesson may last for an hour, but its impact can last a lifetime. A question raised today may become an idea tomorrow. An idea may become a conviction. A conviction may become action. And action, in the hands of a determined mind, can change lives and transform societies.

This is why I do not see teaching simply as a profession. I see it as a calling.

To teach is to model. To teach is to inspire. To teach is to challenge. To teach is to empower.
To teach is, in a very real sense, to participate in building the future.

Every time I walk into that classroom, I know I am not merely teaching students. I am helping to shape the minds that will inherit—and hopefully improve—the world we leave behind.
And that thought alone makes teaching one of the most fulfilling things I could ever do.

Another day in the classroom. Another opportunity to plant ideas, ignite minds, and leave a mark on the future.

28/09/2026

28/09/2026

FROM NIGERIA TO THE KANSAS BAR: A JOURNEY OF DILIGENCE, DETERMINATION AND PURPOSE

Today, I celebrate my brother, Dr. Onah Tochukwu Bros-J, on a remarkable milestone: his swearing-in as an Attorney of the State Bar of Kansas, sworn in by Chief Justice Eric Rosen, with other Associate Justices assisting in the ceremony.

This is more than a professional achievement. For me, it is a moment to pause, reflect and celebrate a journey built on diligence, determination, leadership and perseverance.

After graduating from the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, and completing his training at the Nigerian Law School, Tochukwu took another bold step. He left Nigeria for the Washburn University School of Law to pursue a Master of Law (LL.M) degree, carrying with him not only his education and ambitions, but also the hopes and possibilities that come with daring to pursue a bigger dream. After his LL.M, he embarked on his Juris Doctor (JD) and successfully concluded the program.

Today, seeing him take his place among attorneys in another jurisdiction is deeply inspiring. His journey reminds us that where you begin does not have to determine where you end.

From Nigeria to Washburn.

From the Nigerian Law School to the Kansas Bar.

From one milestone to another.

Each step has demanded discipline. Each transition has required courage. And every achievement has been earned through consistent effort.

Tochukwu, I salute you.

I celebrate your accomplishment, but even more, I celebrate the character behind it—the willingness to learn, the courage to venture beyond familiar territory, the discipline to keep going, and the determination to turn opportunities into achievements.

My dear brother, I am immensely proud of you.
But I also hope that your story will speak beyond family.

To every young person who is wondering whether their dreams are possible, keep learning. Keep building. Keep showing up. Keep moving.

You may not have everything you need today. You may have to cross borders, learn new systems, start again, or prove yourself in unfamiliar environments. But with diligence, preparation, courage and perseverance, your journey can take you places you once only imagined.

Tochukwu's story is a reminder that excellence has no single geography.

Nigeria can be the beginning. The world can become the classroom. And the possibilities can be limitless.

Congratulations, Attorney Onah Tochukwu Bros-J.

Go forth and keep making us proud.

This is another milestone. And I believe there are many more ahead.

From Nigeria to the United States. From the Nigerian Law School to the Kansas Bar. The journey continues. 🇳🇬🇺🇸⚖️

28/09/2026

There are people we meet in life, and there are people whose presence becomes part of our story.

For me, HRH (Igwe) Barr. Simeon Nnadi belongs to the second category.

Today, I find myself looking back—not at titles, positions or accomplishments, but at the beautiful moments, conversations, laughter and memories that have accumulated over the years.

For many years, Igwe Simeon has been an inspiration to me. I have watched his remarkable journey through different careers and diverse engagements in public service, and in each chapter, he has distinguished himself with intelligence, character and a commitment to excellence.

But beyond his accomplishments, there is the person. He is articulate. He is engaging. He is intellectually stimulating. He has that rare ability to make a conversation come alive. And somehow, whenever you are with him, there is always something to learn, something to laugh about, and something to remember.

I have had some of the best and most memorable moments in his company. Looking back today, I realise that some of those moments, which may have seemed ordinary at the time, have become precious memories.

Life, however, has a beautiful way of moving people from one chapter to another. The man I knew and admired eventually became the traditional ruler of his people—a responsibility entrusted to him by his community and a recognition of the character, trust and confidence he had inspired over the years.

Today, I celebrate not just the traditional ruler, the public servant, the professional or the accomplished man. I celebrate the friend, the mentor, the conversationalist, the man whose presence has enriched my journey in ways that words cannot fully capture.

And as I look back, I am grateful.

Grateful for the encounters.

Grateful for the conversations.

Grateful for the laughter.

Grateful for the lessons and inspirations.

And, above all, grateful for the memories.

Some people become part of our history without ever knowing how deeply they have influenced our story. Igwe Simeon, you have been one of those people in my life.

May the years ahead bring you even greater fulfilment, wisdom and opportunities to continue touching lives and leaving footprints that time cannot erase.

Here is to the memories we have made—and to many more beautiful moments still ahead.

27/09/2026

THE WADUME SAGA: THE KIDNAP KINGPIN, THE POLICE AMBUSH AND THE SOLDIERS WHO OPENED FIRE

On 6 August 2019, a police operation in Taraba State took a shocking turn. Police officers had arrested Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, whom investigators accused of involvement in kidnapping.
They were transporting him from Ibi when soldiers attached to the 93 Battalion reportedly intercepted the police team.

Then came the gunfire.

Three policemen and two civilians were klled, while five other police officers were injured.
But what happened next made the story even more extraordinary.

Wadume, who was in police custody, escaped.
He later told investigators that soldiers had attacked the police team, taken him from the officers and removed his handcuffs. Police subsequently launched a massive manhunt for him.

For a while, Wadume disappeared. Then, in August 2019, the police found him in Kano and re-arrested him.

The manhunt was over. But the legal battle was only beginning.

In 2020, Wadume and others were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on serious allegations including kidnapping, mvrder, terrorism and illegal possession of fi****ms. Prosecutors alleged, among other things, that his gang had kidnapped a petrol dealer, Usman Garba, demanded a ransom of N200 million and received N106.3 million before life was snuffed out of the victim. These were prosecution allegations, not findings that were ultimately all established against Wadume in the final judgment.

Then the case took another controversial turn.
The Attorney-General of the Federation amended the charges, reducing the defendants from 20 to seven and removing the names of 10 soldiers and one police officer from the case. This generated considerable controversy, including a legal challenge by the family of one of the slain policemen seeking prosecution of the soldiers.

On 22 July 2022, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court delivered judgment. And this was where the story became particularly striking.

Wadume was not convicted of the kidnapping count. Instead, he was convicted on charges relating to escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited fi****ms. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to 2019.

Other defendants received different outcomes: some were sentenced to prison terms, while others were discharged and acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.

In April 2024, after completing the sentence as calculated from his 2019 arrest, Wadume was released from custody. The Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed his release.

He returned to Ibi, where the traditional ruler received him. According to reports, Wadume pledged to abandon criminality and work with stakeholders to promote peace and security in the community.

And suddenly, the man whose name had become synonymous with one of Nigeria's most controversial security incidents was back in his community.

BUT THE QUESTIONS REMAIN

What exactly happened on that road in Taraba in 2019?

Why did soldiers intercept a police team transporting a suspect?

Who was responsible for the deaths of the policemen and civilians?

Why were the soldiers initially charged and later removed from the case?

And how did a case involving such grave allegations ultimately result in Wadume's conviction on escape from custody and fi****ms-related offences, rather than the kidnapping allegation?

These questions are part of why the Wadume story continues to attract public attention. It is not simply a story about a suspected kidnapper. It is a story about crime, policing, military intervention, institutional accountability, the administration of justice and the consequences of a fractured security system.

And perhaps the most disturbing lesson is this:

When institutions responsible for protecting citizens become involved in a deadly confrontation with one another, the public deserves more than rumours. It deserves truth, accountability and justice.

The Wadume saga may have ended in a courtroom with a seven-year sentence and a subsequent release.

But the bigger questions surrounding that tragic day in Taraba remain part of Nigeria's unfinished conversation about security, accountability and the rule of law.

What do you make of the Wadume saga?

27/09/2026

THE FASCINATING STORY OF A MAN THAT DISAPPEARED FOR 19 YEARS, DECLARED DEAD BY THE LAW, ONLY TO SEE
HIM WALK INTO COURT—ALIVE

What would you do if you disappeared from your life, returned years later, and discovered that the law had already declared you dead?

This is not a movie.It happened in Ohio, USA, to a man named Donald Eugene Miller Jr.
In 1986, Miller disappeared, leaving behind his wife and children. Years passed without contact. Eventually, in 1994, an Ohio court declared him legally dead. His children subsequently started receiving Social Security Survivor Benefits.

Then came the astonishing twist. Donald Miller returned. Alive. After spending years away, he eventually returned to Ohio and discovered that, according to official records, he had been dead for years.

So he did what most of us would probably do. He went to court. In 2013, Miller appeared before an Ohio probate judge and asked the court to restore his legal status as a living person.

And then came the extraordinary legal paradox.

The judge could see him. He was standing there. He was breathing. He was talking. He was obviously alive. But the law had a deadline.

Under the applicable Ohio law, the time allowed to challenge the declaration of death had already expired. The judge therefore refused to reverse the old declaration. In effect, Donald Miller walked into court alive—and walked out still legally dead.

The story did not end there. Because his children had received survivor benefits based on his legal death, authorities later raised questions about those payments and sought repayment.

Imagine the absurdity:

The man was alive—but his legal death had consequences that were very real.

Donald Miller's story is a fascinating reminder that law does not always move at the speed of reality. Sometimes, a person's physical existence can be obvious while their legal identity remains trapped inside an old document.

He disappeared.
He was declared dead.
He returned alive.

And then he had to fight the law to prove what everyone in the courtroom could already see.

The story leaves us with a profound question:
When the law and reality collide, which one should prevail?

27/09/2026

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2026: NIGERIA, TELL YOUR STORY TO THE WORLD 🇳🇬

Tourism is more than travelling. It is a bridge between cultures, an engine of enterprise, a creator of jobs, and a powerful way for a nation to tell its story.

Today, as the world marks World Tourism Day, Nigeria must look inward and ask:
What are we doing with the extraordinary treasures, cultures and stories entrusted to us?

Nigeria has no shortage of attractions—our diverse cultures, festivals, cuisine, music, crafts, historical sites, forests, waterfalls, mountains, beaches and vibrant cities offer enormous possibilities. But having attractions is not enough. Tourism becomes transformative when it creates jobs, empowers local communities, attracts investment, preserves heritage, protects the environment and strengthens local economies.

A festival should benefit the people who keep its traditions alive. A heritage site should preserve history while creating opportunity. A natural attraction should generate livelihoods without destroying the environment. And our young people should not merely watch tourism happen—they should be the guides, entrepreneurs, creatives, hospitality professionals, storytellers and innovators driving it.

Nigeria therefore needs more than beautiful destinations. We need safe destinations, better infrastructure, professional hospitality, investment, skills development and responsible tourism policies.

Most importantly, tourism must put local communities at the centre. Because our greatest tourism asset is not only our mountains, waterfalls or monuments.

It is our people.
Our culture.
Our creativity.
Our hospitality.
Our food.
Our music.
Our stories.
Our resilience.

🇳🇬 NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT
Government must create the conditions for tourism to thrive.

Investors must see tourism as an opportunity to build businesses, create jobs and develop communities.

Our communities must protect and promote the heritage that makes them unique.

Our young people must see tourism as a field of innovation, enterprise and meaningful careers.

And as Nigerians, we must become ambassadors of our own country—discovering Nigeria, supporting local destinations and telling our stories with confidence and pride WHEREVER WE GO.

We cannot continue to wait for others to discover the Nigeria that we have failed to fully develop ourselves.

Let us invest in our destinations.

Let us protect our heritage.

Let us support local tourism businesses.

Let us create opportunities for our young people.

Let us turn Nigeria's remarkable diversity into sustainable prosperity.

Nigeria has a story worth telling. Nigeria has places worth discovering. Nigeria has people capable of building a world-class tourism industry.

The opportunity is here. The resources are here. The talent is here.

What we need now is vision, investment, commitment—and action.

So here is the challenge: before asking the world to discover Nigeria, let each of us discover one Nigerian place we have never visited, support one local tourism enterprise, and tell one authentic Nigerian story to the world.

Let us become the generation that does not merely inherit Nigeria's treasures—but turns them into opportunities for generations to come. 🇳🇬🌍

And let us not miss any opportunity to showcase whom we are whenever we travel.

Happy World Tourism Day 2026!

27/09/2026

TODAY’S GOSPEL: THE YES THAT THE WORLD NEEDS

There is a powerful question hidden in today’s Gospel: What is the value of a “yes” that never becomes action?

In Matthew 21:28–32, Jesus tells the story of two sons. Their father asks both to go and work in his vineyard. One says “No” but eventually goes. The other says “Yes” but never goes.

At first glance, it is a story about two sons. But in reality, it is a mirror held before each of us—and before society itself.

How often do we say the right things but fail to do them?

How often do we promise compassion but withhold it?

How often do we speak about justice, peace, integrity and love, yet remain unwilling to act when those values demand something from us?

Today’s Gospel reminds us that God is not merely interested in the words we speak; He looks at the lives we live.

In a world filled with promises, declarations and good intentions, what humanity desperately needs is a faith that acts, a love that serves, a conscience that speaks, and a commitment that produces results. It is not enough to say we care about the poor if we ignore their suffering. It is not enough to speak about justice if we remain silent before injustice. It is not enough to preach peace if our actions create division. It is not enough to promise a better society if we refuse to help build one.

The vineyard is our world. And every one of us has a place in it.

Our families need our presence. Our communities need our service. Our society needs our integrity. The vulnerable need our compassion. And our generation needs people whose “yes” can be trusted.

Perhaps, then, the most important question this Gospel leaves us with is not “What have I said?” but “What have I done?” May we have the courage to turn our good intentions into good actions, our faith into service, our convictions into courage, and our words into works.

So, this week, do something. Help someone without waiting to be asked. Speak up where silence protects injustice. Reconcile with someone you have hurt or who has hurt you.
Give your time, knowledge or resources to someone in need. Take one concrete step toward making your family, community or workplace better.

Do not let your “yes” remain a sentence you speak. Let it become a decision you live.

The vineyard is waiting. The world is waiting.
And the question is: What will you do?

May we leave today's Gospel not merely inspired, but transformed—and may our actions become the answer to the “yes” we profess.

Happy Sunday. 🙏

26/09/2026

UNN IS RISING AGAIN! 🎓🇳🇬

There are moments when you look at an institution you love and wonder what happened to the glory, beauty and pride it once represented.

For me, one of the most painful sights at the University of Nigeria has been the state of its fences. Once symbols of order, identity and institutional pride, many had collapsed, leaving the environment looking neglected.
But something is changing. Something is happening. UNN is rising again!

Today, I am genuinely thrilled to see the University’s fences being rebuilt. To some, it may be just a construction project. To me, it is a powerful symbol of renewal. It tells us that somebody is taking ownership. It tells us that leadership is looking beyond the office and paying attention to the physical institution entrusted to its care. It tells us that what has been neglected can be restored, what has been broken can be rebuilt, and what has lost its glory can rise again.

I sincerely commend the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, for the visible commitment to rebuilding, maintaining, refurbishing and restoring the University.
A university is more than its classrooms and lecture halls. Its environment speaks. Its infrastructure speaks. Its fences speak. Its state of repair speaks.

And today, the rebuilding of those fences is speaking a language of hope.

UNN is rising.

May this renewal extend to every corner of the University—its infrastructure, academic environment, research ecosystem, student experience and institutional systems.

May the University of Nigeria once again become not merely a name associated with a glorious past, but a living symbol of excellence, innovation, dignity and institutional pride.

Professor Ortuanya, keep rebuilding. Keep restoring. Keep renewing. Because when we rebuild the walls, we are not just restoring structures.

We are restoring confidence.

We are restoring dignity.

We are restoring pride.

We are restoring a legacy.

UNN IS RISING AGAIN! ❤️🎓

26/09/2026

There is a certain magic that Papa Lolos bring to our social gatherings. With their colourful costumes, comic expressions, energetic dances and remarkable ability to engage an audience, they transform ordinary moments into memorable experiences.

Beyond the laughter, I see something deeper: the preservation of joy as a part of our social and cultural life. In a world increasingly defined by stress, uncertainty and seriousness, these entertainers remind us that laughter is also a form of human connection.
They add colour, spontaneity and warmth to our celebrations. Their craft deserves appreciation.

To all the Papa Lolos who keep us laughing and brighten our gatherings: thank you for reminding us that sometimes, the simplest gift we can give one another is the gift of joy. ❤️