Excitement In Abia Community As Unubiko Foundation Builds Primary Health Centre
There was excitement in the Nde Okereke Abam community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State on Thursday, as the Unubiko Foundation officially flagged off the construction of a modern Primary Health Centre to address decades-long gaps in local healthcare access.
The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by Dr. Christopher Okoro, a board member of the foundation and Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba (formerly Abia State Polytechnic).
He described the project as a timely intervention that echoes the healthcare development efforts of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.
“We are here for the foundation laying of a Primary Health Centre in Nde Okereke Abam,” Dr. Okoro declared before a cheering crowd.
“I am not here in the name of the state government but on behalf of Unubiko Foundation, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation founded solely to help the less privileged and to bring hope where there has been none.”
He commended Chief James Umeh (popularly known as Ike Abam), the founder of the Unubiko Foundation, for what he described as his unwavering commitment to the socio-economic development of rural communities in Abia State.
“The founder looked at what the governor, Dr. Alex Otti, is doing in revamping primary healthcare in the 184 wards of Abia State.
“He decided to complement that effort by establishing more health centres, especially in underserved communities like Nde Okereke Abam,” Dr. Okoro said.
He noted that beyond education and water interventions, the Foundation’s latest focus on health infrastructure is a strategic step in reducing maternal and child mortality and improving emergency response in the area.
“This new facility will provide accessible healthcare to pregnant women, the sick, and accident victims.
“We’ve also made provision for residential quarters for a doctor and nurses to ensure uninterrupted service,” he said.
“That is the true definition of development—when a community begins to enjoy basic facilities that protect life and dignity.”
Elder Okorie, a community leader, speaking on behalf of the people of Nde Okereke, expressed deep appreciation to Chief Umeh and the Foundation for what he described as a “historic gift”.
“For many years, our people have had to travel to far-away villages or towns just to get medical help.
“Sometimes, lives are lost along the way. But this initiative brings us relief and hope,” Elder Okorie said.
“We thank Chief Chijioke Umeh for remembering us. His works—be it in education, water, or healthcare—are a blessing not just to Abam but to the whole of Abia State.”
The Managing Director of Virop Services Ltd, Paul Iro Awa, whose firm was contracted to handle the construction, assured the community that the project would be delivered with the highest standards of engineering excellence.
“We are humbled to be selected by the Unubiko Foundation for this noble task. I assure you that no corners will be cut in this construction,” he said.
“We are fully mobilised and, by God’s grace, this health centre will be ready in eight weeks.”
The new health centre, when completed, is expected to significantly reduce the healthcare burden on surrounding communities in the Abam clan, including Ovuku, Ohaeke, and Ohafor I & II, where the state government has already rehabilitated similar facilities.
The Unubiko Foundation, founded by Chief James Umeh, has gained widespread recognition for its community-driven projects across Abia State, ranging from scholarships and boreholes to schools, worship centres, and now healthcare infrastructure.
As the sun set on Thursday’s ceremony, residents of Nde Okereke danced, sang, and prayed — united in gratitude, and hopeful that a new chapter of better health and well-being had finally begun.
Excitement In Abia Community As Unubiko Foundation Builds Primary Health Centre is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
