‘Philantrophy is not a desire but a necessity for me’
Doctor Godwin Maduka, a US-based Adjunct Clinical Professor of Anaesthesiology, Pain Management and Surgery, is the founder of the five-branches of Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Centre in the USA. His phenomenal success overseas has not made him forget his Nigerian roots as testimonies describe him as a philanthropist on a mission to promote human welfare and banish poverty. He talks about what propels his generosity to his community
He grew up in abject poverty, raised by a father who practiced what is known in Igboland as Dibia (herbalist). At some point, he engaged in palm wine tapping as a source of livelihood and to support his education. Indeed, Dr. Godwin Maduka waded through the rough edges of life in the rusty Anambra community known as Umuchukwu, formerly Nkerehi and weathered the storm.
Perhaps his early exposure to the nuances of traditional medicine and the zest to make something out of life fueled his desire to choose to seek greener pastures abroad after he managed to complete secondary school in the early 80’s.
By providence, he was able to pucker just enough cash to travel to the United States of America in 1982. Upon arrival in the US, he began a 16-year tertiary education journey with his enrolment (in the summer of the same 1982) at Rust College, Holly Springs Mississippi for a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. After graduating in 1984, he moved over to Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia where he obtained a Doctorate degree in Pharmacy.
Thereafter, he gained admission into the University of Tennessee Medical School, eventually interning in Internal Medicine. Not satisfied with what he had achieved in his traverse of both the parmaceutical and medical professions, he proceeded to the Medical School of Harvard University, where he undertook Graduate Medical Training, specialising in Anesthesia and Critical Care and Pain Management and successfully completed the programme in 1997.
Dr. Maduka is the founder of the five-branches Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Centre in the USA. He is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology, Pain Management and Surgery, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada, USA. The Institute is the premier one-stop destination for pain treatment needs and relief in Nevada. Its five branches namely, Las Vegas Medical Centre; Henderson Medical Centre; Centennial Medical Centre; Nellis Medical Centre and Sahara Medical Centre in five convenient locations in Las Vegas is the largest and most comprehensive pain treatment practice group in Nevada.
With the existence of these viable concerns, cash began to flow in and he conquered poverty. Thankfully, he remembered home and decided he was going to turn around the fortunes of his people for the best. Since then, he has not looked back.
This US-based Nigerian physician holds dear to the notion that the best way to achieve a holistic development of the entire Nigerian landscape and mitigate the problem of rural to urban migration is for every wealthy individual to start by, first, developing his immediate environment and thereafter extend the gesture to other communities. Pursuant to that idea, he has made landmark interventions in his community, its environs and beyond.
He built 55 houses for less privileged people in Umuchukwu Town and neighbouring Owerre-Ezukala town in Orumba South Local Council of Anambra State; built a Pro-Cathederal housing the Catholic Church and renovated the Anglican Church in Umuchukwu. He also built huge mansions to accommodate the clergy for both churches as well as a civic centre for Umuchukwu community.
Dr. Maduka single-handedly built a magistrate’s court complex and handed it over to the State Judicial Service, built a Nigerian Police Station, made up of four storey-buildings, all in Umuchukwu. Others are a five-storey and a two-storey block for Trinity Hospital and Maternity, Umuchukwu fully equipped with ambulance services.
He also built an ultra-modern secondary school named Immaculate Conception International College with staff quarters. Not done, the philanthropist also built a magnificient edifice for the traditional ruler of Umuchukwu as well as a gigantic water scheme which currently provides potable water for the rural community. His generousity knows no bounds.
He constructed two bridges linking his community with Ogbunka, donated exotic cars to ordained priests from Umuchukwu community as well as other well-meaning indigenes of the community.
Besides, the medical doctor also provided free medical services to indigent members of the community and awarded scholarships to over 30 persons studying in various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and overseas.
“But, with that, everything won’t be perfect unless I come to the town where I grew up and try to make a change for the future for somebody else because if I am doing well and people are passing through the same hardship I passed through, I don’t think that will make me a human being. So I can say that philanthropy came to me, I didn’t go to it and I was doing it without knowing it is called philanthropy in the first place.”
According to the director general of Socio-Economic Rights Initiative (SERI), Mr. Ray Onyegu, the medical practitioner put in place youth empowerment programmes spanning the provision of soft loans, cars, motorcycles and buses to youths and youth groups in Umuchukwu community.
“He influenced the dualisation of the Owerre-Ezukala and the Umuchukwu-Ogbunka roads; defrayed accumulated electricity bills of his people amounting to millions of naira and is currently building a High Court Complex in Umuchukwu”, Onyegu who is a lawyer stated. In addition to that structure, Dr. Maduka is currently building a 15-storey community centre, which upon completion would serve many purposes, including recreation centre, shopping malls, conference centres and offices for governmental and non-governmental organisations.
The oldest man in the community, Pa Simeon Ibe described him as a good man with a transparent heart. His words: “I am their father now. When he returns, he always sent for me and asked me about what is going on in the community because he knows that I will always stand for the truth. He is a good man, very lovely man. He is very transparent.”
In an earlier interview, Dr. Maduka who is also planning to establish a University in the community had said his generousity was fuelled by the necessity to impact on humanity in positive ways.
His words: “Philanthropy is out of necessity. It is not a desire but a necessity. You can’t make money and you come home with a fine car and find out that people around you are suffering and dying! If you grew up in such abject poverty, you will have no choice but to do something about it. I have a simple solution to complex problems but I thank God Almighty for giving me the excellent education I got from America having triple professorship, double doctorate degree, Harvard education and then having a successful practice in US which paid off.”
“But, with that, everything won’t be perfect unless I come to the town where I grew up and try to make a change for the future for somebody else because if I am doing well and people are passing through the same hardship I passed through, I don’t think that will make me a human being. So I can say that philanthropy came to me, I didn’t go to it and I was doing it without knowing it is called philanthropy in the first place.”
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1 Comments
This level of philanthropy is unprecedented in history. God will continue to enrich you. Please sir, extend your gesture to the entire South East so you can replicate yourself in others in a wider scale.
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