CHIEF (DR) CHRIS AKACHUKWU NWA-ABIA: Celebrating The Legendary Philanthropist And Humanist On His Birthday

By Chika Nwabueze in Umuahia

Today Monday 23rd October, 2023 will remain a special day in the history books of the people of Ohuhu in particular, and Abia State in general. Reason: It was on this date many decades ago that a great man was born in the serene village of Umuda Okorocha Isingwu, in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State. Consequently, if the truth must be said, there is no amount of birthday niceties that can be enough to compensate for the many works of charity, philanthropy and above all community development efforts which this illustrious son of Isingwu represents.

Chief (Dr) Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia, the Founder of the wave making Team Nwa-Abia Movement, and Chris Nwa-Abia Foundation is like a Golden Fish that has no hiding place. His life bespeaks humility, self-effacement, kindness and generosity, a reason why humanity will ever remain thankful to the Almighty God for making Chief Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia a blessing to the society.

Though today’s birthday celebration has been designed to be low-key and in remembrance of the down trodden, the motherless and all those that are oppressed, yet we have to abide by the age long code that says we should give honour to whom honour is due, in this wise it is only fitting that we celebrate this rare gift to humanity, Chief Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia, a man with a good heart who is fully committed to providing succour and welfare to the masses.

Engineer Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia holds the Chieftaincy title of Ihie Umuahia, courtesy of the Umuahia North Council of Traditional rulers, Omereoha Isingwu and Anyanwu Ofeme bestowed on him by the oldest traditional ruler in Ohuhu, in recognition of his numerous empowerment and community development programmes which have benefitted many sons and daughters of Ohuhu clan. He is a recipient of over 100 honours and awards, including Rotary Club Community Development Award and NAWOJ recognition.

As a matter of fact, due to his proclivity for community development, he has been dubbed the “community development expert”. This is one area that is so dear to his heart such that he remains one of the private individuals in modern day history to have initiated and funded numerous educational and community development projects of multi-million Naira dimensions.

Take for instance his individual interventions in the educational sector so far; at the Nkwoachara Community Primary School, Isingwu, Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia constructed a model four Classroom Block that remains one of the best school blocks with modern facilities seen in any public school today. He didn’t stop there, he went further to award scholarship to over 40 pupils, providing them with complete school uniforms, books, school bags and shoes. His intervention led to the upsurge in enrolment of pupils in an otherwise neglected school.

Only last year, Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia through the Ohuhu youth leadership paid the WAEC registration fees for over fifty indigent students in Ohuhu, and also registered another 100 students for JAMB exams. Countless number of undergraduates are benefiting from his scholarship scheme, which is being sustained till date. He holds the view that every child no matter how disadvantaged should be entitled to quality education in an education friendly learning environment.

For one, Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia brought his engineering expertise to bear in the various projects he is financing in the communities. He singlehandedly constructed the Umuda Okorocha civic hall with modern convenience and installed borehole. The Isingwu Federated Ultra-modern civic centre is being financed by him, and the project which is of best standard has reached 70 per cent completion level courtesy of Chris Nwa-Abia. He once donated a transformer to one of the communities in Ohuhu, while he helped them restore electricity to the community after several months without power due to damaged transformer.

Again, he is the first to begin a mini stadium project in Umuahia which later gained traction among politicians. There is hardly any community development initiative in Ohuhu that didn’t get his support, no matter how big or little it might be, among which was the Ofeme drainage project. He is always willing and ready to providing support for any initiative that can better the lots of the common man, despite the fact that he is not a political office holder.

Perhaps, one area Chris Nwa-Abia has shown matchless zeal and capacity is in the area of youth empowerment. Through the Chris Nwa-Abia Foundation, the celebrant has been able to empower youths with vehicles for transportation and also gave women of Amato traders money to grow their trade.

In the very recent past, precisely in July 2023 Chris Nwa-Abia through the Chris Nwa-Abia Foundation gave N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) grant each to 50 medium, small and micro enterprises, MSME, owners in Ohuhu whom he also registered with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN. It was as a result of his burning desire to see the youths acquire a skill and be self-reliant that he sponsored over 500 youths in Ohuhu to be trained in various vocations and skills by an NGO, Hope for Nigeria. The training will commence in November at the Umuda Okorocha Civic Hall.

Not only that, just last month Chris Nwa-Abia empowered some youths in Ohuhu with ‘Agro Tricycle’ popularly known as ‘Jega Tricycle’ in the far North, and promised that more is coming. He has distributed more palliatives to women groups, widows and the less privileged people without restraint and has continued to do so, in line with his avowed commitment to bring hope and succour to the vulnerable and needy, who daily throng to his abode to seek for one assistance or the other.

One thing than stands Chris Nwa-Abia out from the crowd is his humility; he is unassuming, humane and does not discriminate. His open-door policy and charity are legendary.

Rt Revd (Dr) Ikechukwu Emezi Ukolu, the Methodist Bishop of Umuahia East Diocese during his visit to the residence of Chris Nwa-Abia on Sunday 22 October, being the eve of his birthday commended the Ihie Ohuhu for touching the lives of many people, especially the less privileged. The Methodist Bishop of Umuahia East, who came in company of his wife and the presbytery prayed God to give Nwa-Abia the enabling grace to win the battle to become very great.

Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia is the Managing Director/ CEO of NoLimits Technicks Ltd, an engineering construction company with head office located in Abuja. He has in his employment over 100 workers with two expatriate staff in his employment. Besides his biological children, Chris Nwa-Abia has over twelve foster children. He represents hope with demonstrable believe in a new Abia that will work for all, a reason behind the formation of the Team Nwa-Abia Movement, which is a strong advocate for change and good governance.

For Chris Nwa-Abia, politics should be an avenue to render service and touch lives, and not to be misconstrued as an avenue to enrich oneself and family at the expense of the masses.

As we celebrate him today, on his birthday, we pray God to continue to prosper and grant him long life. Happy Birthday Chief Chris Akachukwu Nwa-Abia and may your days be long!

Written by Comrd Chika Nwabueze, Abia Based Journalist/Social Activist