Chief James Ume
Chief James Ume Honored as Philanthropist of the Year 2024 for Transformative Impact
Chief James Ume, Chairman of the Unubiko Foundation and Publisher of THE WHISTLER newspapers, has been recognized as the Philanthropist of the Year 2024 by The Reporters Magazine. The prestigious award was presented during a grand ceremony on Saturday, February 15, 2025, in Abuja.
The accolade was handed to Chief Ume by Mr. Garba Shehu, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. Among the distinguished guests at the event was Femi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
Chief Ume’s recognition adds to his extensive list of accolades for his unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes. Through the Unubiko Foundation, he has spearheaded numerous initiatives, positively impacting countless lives across Nigeria.
His contributions to education, healthcare, and infrastructure are notable. He has awarded over 200 scholarships in Arochukwu Local Government Area, covered WAEC fees for students in Atan-Abam, and donated 100 brand-new laptops to support digital skills training. In 2024, the Foundation paid WAEC fees for approximately 200 indigent students at Ovukwu Abam Secondary School and Onyerubi Comprehensive Secondary School.
In infrastructure development, Chief Ume has funded the reconstruction of critical community structures, including a customary court in Abia State valued at over N150 million, a Presbyterian Church, a women’s development center, and the Ovukwu-Abam Secondary School, Atan-Abam, with investments exceeding N500 million.
Read also: James Ume Bags ‘The Sun Humanitarian Service Icon’ Award
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Ume’s philanthropy extended to providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to healthcare workers and journalists. His contributions included a donation of PPEs to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, books worth over N6 million to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and relief materials to communities in Abia State.
His efforts in rural electrification include the donation of transformers and the construction of 44 boreholes to ensure clean water access for 27 villages in Abam. Additionally, he has covered medical expenses for indigent patients and sponsored journalism capacity-building programs.
Chief Ume’s dedication to philanthropy has earned him several distinguished awards, including:
- Humanitarian Service Icon Award 2022 by The Sun Publishing Company
- Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Award (GFIIA) 2023 by HEDA Resource Centre
- Africa’s Patriotic and Philanthropic Personality of the Year 2024 by the All-Africa Students Union (AASU)
- Honorary Doctorate Degree in Philanthropy and Human Investment 2024 by Weldios University of Management and Technology, Benin Republic
In December 2022, Chief Ume reconstructed and handed over a magistrate court abandoned for 89 years to the Abia State government, now serving 26 communities in Abam, Arochukwu LGA. On December 26, 2023, he handed over Onyerubi Comprehensive Secondary School, rebuilt through the Unubiko Foundation.
Furthering his educational commitment, in March 2024, he launched a N300 million scholarship grant for students in Abia State during a thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Atan Abam.
Through his relentless humanitarian efforts, Chief James Ume has solidified his legacy as a champion of education, empowerment, and community development, making an indelible mark on Nigeria’s philanthropic landscape.
