Don’t Let Life’s Challenges Rob You of Desire to Help Needy – Canada-Based Lawyer
By Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
A Canada-based lawyer and social worker, Dr. Olugu Ukpai, has urged Nigerians not to allow life’s difficulties to harden their hearts or stop them from uplifting others, especially the underprivileged.
Dr. Ukpai, who graduated as the best student in Philosophy and Religion from the University of Port Harcourt in 2000, made the appeal during a free medical outreach organized by his humanitarian foundation, Chama Ministry.
Over 100 patients received treatment for various ailments during the programme held in Aba.
He shared that his passion for humanitarian work, particularly in health care, was born out of personal tragedies despite not being a medical professional.
Dr. Ukpai recounted losing both of his parents and his only sister during his teenage years, experiences that nearly drove him to the brink of insanity due to poverty and emotional trauma.
“What I do today is shaped by the tragedies of my early life,” “I lost my mother to postpartum hemorrhage when I was 14, and two years later, my father died of cholera after drinking contaminated water collected from a thatched roof. My only sister, Onyekachi, succumbed to malnutrition not long after. Years later, one of my twin daughters, just 16 months old, died of malaria because they were denied visas to join me in Canada.”he said.
Dr. Ukpai also revealed that he was once advised to drop out of university after suffering cerebral malaria, which nearly affected his mental stability. However, a kind-hearted doctor treated him at no cost—an act of generosity he says he will never forget and which further inspired his commitment to serve others.
Due to his academic brilliance, he was retained as an assistant lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. He later secured a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship, which took him to Canada, where he studied further to become both a lawyer and a certified social worker.
He said that poverty had a significant role in the tragic deaths in his family and vowed to ensure that underprivileged Nigerians, especially the sick, do not suffer the same fate due to lack of access to proper medical care.
According to him, since its inception 19 years ago, over 900 individuals across Nigeria and beyond have benefited from the Chama Ministry’s free medical programmes.
Beneficiaries have received treatments including eye surgeries, fibroid removals, hernia and appendicitis operations, among others.
Dr. Ukpai disclosed that he has reached an agreement with an Indian firm for the development and procurement of an advanced malaria treatment facility and is currently awaiting approval from the Nigerian government.
When asked why the Abia State Government was unaware of his philanthropic activities, Dr. Ukpai expressed disappointment.
He said all efforts to inform Governor Alex Otti both while he was in Canada and after his return to Nigeria had been unsuccessful.
“Governor Otti is an outstanding leader. What previous administrations couldn’t achieve in 24 years, he has done within two. We, as progressive-minded Abians in the diaspora, want to support and collaborate with him. But unfortunately, he’s unaware of our activities here,” “I have written multiple times through his Special Adviser on Ease of Doing Business and even through a close personal friend in his government, but there has been no response. I believe if he knew about our mission, he would have shown support or at least acknowledged our work.”Ukpai said.
He further stated that he now believes the pain and tragedy that once threatened to destroy his life were allowed by God to strengthen and prepare him for a greater purpose—helping humanity.
Also speaking during the event, Apostle Gloria Ogbonna, the National Coordinator of the programme, who led prayer and counselling sessions, said the spiritual engagement was meant to reassure patients, especially those anxious about surgery.
“We take time to counsel and encourage the patients. Some have lost all hope. We assure them they are in safe hands—with both our medical team and with God,” she said.
At the New Era Specialists Hospital in Aba, where the five-day outreach was hosted, the hospital’s Administrative Manager, Mr. Clement Nworah, stated that the management volunteered its facilities, including operating theatres and doctors, in support of the programme.
“We’ve worked with Chama Ministry for years, and we’re happy to offer our space for this impactful programme,” “This also reminds the public that our hospital, despite the death of its proprietor years ago, is still active and delivering quality healthcare services in Aba.”Nworah said.
Two beneficiaries who had successful surgeries expressed gratitude to God and the Chama Ministry for the free treatments they received. Though they chose to remain anonymous, they said they were overwhelmed by the care they received—from diagnosis and testing to surgery—without paying a single naira.
