An America-based Nigerian doctor Godwin Maduka has built about 100 bungalows for widows and other indigent people in Umuchukwu community in Orumba South local government area of Anambra state, where he hails from.

Speaking with The Punch, excited residents of Umuchukwu, which is a boundary community between Anambra and Abia states, said:

“Today, there is no more thatched house in the community. Maduka has replaced every thatched house in the area with three or four-bedroom bungalows.

“About 100 of such buildings are currently in place in the community. They belong to the indigent natives, especially widows. All such buildings carry green aluminum roofing sheets for easy identification and beautification of the place.”

When asked to explain his philanthropic gesture, Maduka recalled his “ugly experience” from childhood.

“I embarked on all these to save my people from my ugly experience while growing up. I grew up in a home that when it rained, it rained more inside than house.

“Wealth would be meaningless if it cannot be used to better the lives of the people around the custodian.

“The wealthy must provide jobs for the youths; build skills acquisition centres for willing adults, market stalls for men and women, if society must be secure,” he said.

Vincent Otaokpukpu, Maduka’s personal assistant, said that his boss opened up Umuchukwu by building schools, hospitals, churches, security posts, industries, police station. Stressing that the community was totally denied any meaningful government attention, Otaokpukpu added:

“He [Maduka] believes that government alone cannot give resounding development due to its meagre resources when compared to the volume of social, economic amenities expected by the people.”

According to Otaokpukpu, Maduka’s gesture compelled Peter Obi, the ex-governor of the state, to construct two roads connecting Umuchukwu with other communities.

“When the foundation visited then governor Obi at the government house in Awka with the pathetic story of the absence of roads in the area, it promised to finance 50% of the road contract, while the state would pay 50%.

“Obi, moved by such an offer, decided to visit the community himself and what he saw overwhelmed him and he took sole responsibility of building the two roads alone,” the assistant said.