Dr. Godwin Onyema

Born in Jos, Nigeria in 1943 to Mr. Augustine and Mrs. Mercillina Onyema, Dr. Godwin Onyema was the third of ten children. He attended St Paul’s Anglican Primary School Jos, after which he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha for his Secondary School education from 1957 to 1961.

Godwin’s was the last class admitted by Principal S.J. Cookey and he graduated under Principal S.C. Ogoazi. He was involved in the Awka District Union Etilogwu Dance that ultimately won the Premier Cup at the Eastern Nigeria Festival of the Arts in Enugu. Godwin was also in the well-acclaimed Greek mythology play, Oedipus Rex, and in his final year he was honored when Principal Ogoazi appointed him the first Chapel Prefect in the school’s history.

Godwin spent his holidays in Nawfia. Joined by his classmates, they would rent bicycles and ride through all the neighboring towns. Some days they would stay home dancing to Rex Lawson, EC Arinze, or Eddy Okonta music. As Godwin put it, “We were young, we were energetic and we were very proud to be Dengramites!”

While at DMGS, Godwin had an experience that would shape the trajectory of his life. Bright and curious, Godwin volunteered in the school dispensary, and quickly became a capable assistant to Dr. Mrs. Philips, the physician who oversaw the students’ care. Inspired by Dr. Mrs. Philips’ dedication to service and enamored by those early experiences with medicine – a school full of boys meant an endless supply of cuts and scrapes in need of bandages! – Godwin’s passion for medicine was born. He attended Government College Umuahia for Advanced Level studies from 1962 to 1963, and in 1964, he gained admission to the premier University of Ibadan Nigeria to study medicine.

During his studies, civil war erupted in Nigeria, and interrupted his course for three years. This was a significant setback for Godwin and his fellow classmates, as not only were their dreams deferred, but when they returned to school, they faced condescension and mistreatment from their younger peers. However, to know Godwin is to know his irrepressible spirit. He worked through the obstacles with tenacity and grit, and graduated from medical school in 1972 – the first medical doctor from Nawfia, his hometown. His breakthrough inspired many generations of Nawfia indigenes to seek a career in medicine and healthcare.

On completing his internship at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu in 1974, he relocated to Chicago – an obvious choice for a man accustomed to the constant sun and heat of Nigeria! Despite the chill of Chicago winters, there was much warmth in Godwin’s 40-year career as an OB/GYN in the States. He completed his residency at Cook County Hospital, was a staff member at the Mount Sinai Medical Group, and served as Chairman of Jackson Park Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. All along the way, he found vibrant communities of doctors and nurses who, like him, had emigrated from places far and wide, and remain cherished friends to this day. Godwin was also the longtime owner and operator of his private practice, the Gresham Medical Center, where he worked alongside a loyal and loving staff and treated countless patients in their female care and precious pregnancy journeys.

While these roles outline the shape of Godwin’s career, the heart of his work was teaching. Godwin loved training the next generation of doctors, and was beloved by so many residents who had the honor of learning under his service.

Godwin’s skill as a physician was evidenced not only in his students, but also in the many Nigerian women who traveled to Chicago specifically to give birth under his care. Godwin was humbled to be sought out by mothers who had the means to leave Nigeria to labor safely, but his heart layed with the scores of women who could not.

It is for that reason Godwin co-founded The GEANCO Foundation (www.geanco.org) in 2005. GEANCO is an organization that saves and transforms lives in Africa. It leads complex surgical missions to Nigeria. It provides mental and menstrual health support to teens. Through its system of modern, solar-powered rural family clinics, GEANCO helps poor, vulnerable pregnant women safely deliver healthy babies, vaccinate infants, and provide high-quality care to men and boys.

In addition to donating laptops, library, laboratory, and sports facilities to schools, the charity’s David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls provides full tuition, healthcare, leadership training, and social & psychological support to young female survivors of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria.

GEANCO proudly counts among its supporters Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Angelina Jolie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Charlize Theron, David Oyelowo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Rachel Brosnahan, Jimmy Kimmel, Rosario Dawson, Andrew Garfield, Jeff Daniels, Daisy Ridley, Forest Whitaker, Aldis Hodge, Yvonne Orji, Uzo Aduba, Cynthia Erivo, Tyrese, Bryan Cranston, Steven Soderbergh, Billy Ray, Janus Funds, FedEx, Capital Group Companies, CAA, UTA, Smiths Group, The Oscars, Disney, Google, Netflix, Pfizer and Marks & Spencer.

Godwin leaves behind a tremendous professional legacy, but all of that pales in comparison to what he personally meant to the people in his life. To know Godwin was to feel loved and seen by him, and no one benefitted from that more than his family and friends. Godwin was a caring and generous brother to his siblings Vincent, Cecilia, Charity, Geoffrey, Nkasi, Ernest, and Emeka (Regina and Sunday did not survive infancy), and took great pride in being a warm and devoted uncle to their children. Godwin delighted in laughing and telling stories, routinely having robust hours-long phone calls with friends, and engaging in lively (and multitudinous!) WhatsApp groups.

But nothing brought Godwin more happiness and pride than the relationships he had with his four children – Gozie, Afam, Ebele, and Nche and Josephine as their mother, and his three grandchildren - Adair, Brynn, and Channing and their mother Veronica (Gozie’s wife). There isn’t space or time enough to express the width and the depth of Godwin’s love for them, nor their love for him, so a short story will have to suffice. When the Onyema children were young, Godwin would play table tennis with each of them in the basement of their home in South Holland, Illinois. After giving a particular child a series of easy volleys, lulling them into a feeling of youthful self-confidence, Godwin would suddenly wack the ball in a brutal return all while emitting a triumphant taunt, “WALLOP!!!” Much like this moment now as they memorialize their father, those early table tennis thrashings taught the Onyema children a profound lesson – that joy, devastation, and the desire to be worthy of this man they so utterly adored could be felt simultaneously. Perhaps, they always will.

You have fought the good fight, Godwin. You have finished the race. You have kept the faith. We love you.

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A Few of Godwin’s Faves: 

Galas with the GEANCO family, going to the movies, catching a live show or concert, Ravinia adventures, scenic train rides, Portillo’s ribs and chocolate cake, singing in church with gusto, salmon, sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, croissants, Gordon's tea after church, freshly squeezed orange juice, and too many Nigerian delicacies to count. He loved lazy rivers, long walks, treadmill runs and most recently his bi-weekly sessions with his personal trainer, Melissa. And of course his big faves...Barack Obama and late ‘90s Steve Kerr ("Steve Kerr, my main man!!!").

Godwin was fortified, not wearied, by the opportunity he considered a blessing...to be immersed in his kids' countless science and history fairs (producing state champions), band performances, track meets, swim lessons, baseball (including All-Stars), softball, basketball and football practices and games (all the way to the collegiate level in football for Gozie and Afam), speech events, dance recitals and competitions across the country. Even when Nche went from being on stage as a dancer to a choreographer in the wings, he was steadfast in the audience.  He always had time for summer road trips to Wisconsin Dells, family cruises and vacations with memories as endless as the sand his kids tracked all over the place.

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Additional Accomplishments:

In 2006, St. Clement’s Church in Harvey, IL dedicated its outreach program to Dr. Onyema in recognition of his invaluable support of its Open Food Pantry and clothing giveaway programs. The church’s outreach programs were organized as the Dr. Godwin Onyema Jubilee Center.

In 2007, Dr. Onyema received the Bishop’s Award from the Rt. Reverend William D. Purcell, the former Bishop of the Anglican Archdiocese of Chicago. Dr. Onyema received the award in recognition of “his outstanding service to God, his Church, and his community.”

In 2012, DMGS Old Boys Association of North America awarded Dr. Onyema the "Eminent Old Boy Award" in recognition of his achievements and commitment to the growth of DMGS Onitsha

In 2012, the Chicago Medical Society awarded its prestigious Henrietta Herbolsheimer Public Service Award to Dr. Onyema in honor of his outstanding contributions to community service both in Chicago and in Nigeria.

In 2012, African LifeStyles Magazine awarded Dr. Onyema and The GEANCO Foundation the "Helping Hands Award" in recognition and appreciation of his exemplary service to the African community.

In 2016, The Nigerian American Professionals Association (NAPA) awarded Dr. Onyema the "NAPA Lifetime Achievement Award"

In 2017, Dr. Onyema received the Diamond Award. "Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service and character. In grateful appreciation to Dr. Godwin Onyema Diamond award presented by the Class of 2017 June 9th, 2017.

In 2019, the Nawfia Progressive Union honored him with an Award of Recognition in appreciation for his unalloyed support towards humanity and Nawfia in particular.

In 2023, Dr. Onyema was honored for his good works at the inaugural Umukwa Day, a special celebration dedicated to the rich cultural heritage of Umukwa Village, Nawfia and the remembrance of the forefathers whose contributions have left a lasting legacy.

Godwin and his work with GEANCO has been profiled and interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, National Public Radio (NPR) and Ebony Magazine.

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