Anambra Industrialist Invests Over ₦500m in Community Healthcare, ICT Development

By Mimi Chiadikaobi

A Lagos-based Anambra industrialist, Mr Godwin Onuora Osonwa, has disclosed that he has invested over ₦500 million in the construction and equipping of a primary healthcare centre and an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre in Obunagu–Amikwo, Awka, Anambra State, as part of efforts to improve the living standards of his people.
Osonwa said the investment, which runs into several hundreds of millions of naira, covers the construction of the facilities, procurement of modern medical and ICT equipment, and the free distribution of over 55 laptops to students who have benefited from the programme.
According to him, his passion for community service is neither politically motivated nor aimed at earning chieftaincy titles, but is driven purely by a desire to give back to society—an attribute he said he inherited from his late mother.
The Obunagu–Amikwo, Awka South Local Government Area–born businessman disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Awka on Saturday.
He explained that healthcare and education remain his top priorities, especially in line with the vision of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to build sustainable legacies across critical sectors of the state’s economy.
“I was inspired by the commitment and leadership style of the governor, which made me resolve to key into the state’s ‘Think Home Philosophy,’”
“I believe strongly that government alone cannot meet all the needs of the people. That understanding informed my decision to partner with the state, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education.”Osonwa said.
Reflecting on his childhood experiences, Osonwa recalled that access to healthcare was a major challenge in his community.
“As a child, I watched my late mother, Esther Osonwa, trek long distances to access medical care whenever we fell sick. Other members of the community faced the same hardship. Schools were also far from where we lived,”
“These realities made healthcare and education the focus of my first major social interventions. The construction and full equipping of the health and ICT centres alone cost well over ₦500 million.”he said.
He noted that the primary healthcare centre, built by the Manari Osonwa Foundation, was initiated in 2023 and formally handed over to the Anambra State Government on April 29, 2025. The facility was named Manari Osonwa Primary Health Centre (PHC) in honour of his late mother.
Osonwa commended the state government for its strong support, particularly in providing qualified medical personnel and essential working tools, which have ensured the delivery of free and quality healthcare services to the community.
“We have doctors on ground, vaccines, a solar-powered vaccine refrigerator, modern delivery beds, clean water supply, telemedicine facilities, and other critical medical equipment,”
“The government’s presence is clearly felt here. It shows that when individuals genuinely want to help their people, government support is assured.”he said.
He further disclosed that the Commissioner for Health, Mr Afam Obidike, facilitated the integration of the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme into the facility, making access to free healthcare services easier for residents.
“I am grateful to God for using me as a vessel to put smiles on the faces of sick people in the community where I grew up, with the backing of the government,” he added.
On education, Osonwa said the ICT centre was established to equip primary and secondary school pupils with essential digital skills and prepare them for computer-based examinations and higher education.
“Government has done well by bringing schools closer to the people. My contribution was to create an ICT centre that would sharpen the students’ skills and make them computer-literate before they get to the university,”
“If students acquire computer skills early, even while living in rural areas, they can compete favourably with their peers in urban centres and sit for any computer-based examination without fear.” he added.
He said the foundation employs qualified instructors who train willing pupils from primary to secondary school levels six days a week, including after-school hours and during long vacation periods, all at no cost to the students.
Osonwa added that outstanding participants are empowered with free laptops every April to enable them to continue practicing what they have learned.
He noted that another batch of beneficiaries is expected to graduate this April.
He expressed appreciation to the Obunagu–Amikwo community for donating the land on which the health and ICT centres are located.
“I am particularly happy to see participants coming from neighbouring communities such as Amaenyi, Umuzuocha and Umudioka to register for the computer training,” he said.
Osonwa also revealed that the Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Mr Fred Agbata, has strengthened the ICT centre by deploying qualified ICT professionals to support the training programmes.
“The Manari Osonwa Foundation’s health and ICT centres represent a point where private passion meets public purpose,”
“I encourage all eligible residents within and around the community to take full advantage of the free healthcare and ICT services, as well as the incentives provided at the end of the training.”he said.