A United States-based medical doctor, Dr. John Onyema, has constructed a pedestrian bridge linking Okpuala village back to the rest of the Amaogwugwu community in Umuhu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, after decades of isolation.
The newly completed bridge is expected to significantly ease movement within the community, enabling pupils to access the only government primary school and providing safe passage for residents to the Afor Ogwugwu weekly market.
For decades, Okpuala, one of the six villages that make up Amaogwugwu, remained cut off from the rest of the community due to the persistent rise of water tides. The frequent collapse of makeshift bridges had rendered passage risky, particularly during the rainy season, severely affecting education, commerce, and social activities.
The President General of the community, Mr. Kelechi Uwaoma, expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Onyema for his magnanimous gesture. He described the bridge as a major relief, highlighting that in the past, children could not attend school during the rainy season, and the weekly community market had become almost non-functional due to inaccessibility and the dangers posed by the river crossing.
Mr. Uwaoma emphasized that the bridge would restore economic and social life to the community and called on other well-meaning individuals to emulate Dr. Onyema’s example. He also pointed out that the community still faces numerous developmental challenges, including the need for potable water, rural electrification, and better healthcare facilities.
Furthermore, Mr. Uwaoma urged members of the community to foster unity and resist divisions, insisting that peace and collective efforts are critical for sustainable development.
“This bridge stands not just as a structure but as a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together for the common good,” he stated.
Other community leaders and stakeholders praised Dr. Onyema’s efforts, describing them as an act worthy of emulation and a call to action for more community-driven development efforts.
