Mr, James Ogbuka Umekwe was the President of the Council of Igbo States in Americas (CISA) from January 2022 to January 2024.
Mr. Umekwe was born into the family of Chief & Lady Matthias Umekwe Ogbuka, the (Ezeji) 2nd of Abam Onyerubi Ancient Kingdom in Abam/Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria.
He had his early primary and secondary education at Central School, and Abam high school, Ozu Abam respectively.
James attended Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, graduating with a Diploma in Civil engineering. He continued his studies at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, before moving to University of District of Columbia in Washington D.C.
He has a Bsc in Civil Engineering, Graduate Engineering Certificate from the University of Maryland, College Park through the Maryland State Department Transportation Graduate Engineering Training Program -GETP. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Association of States Highway Transportation Officials and Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Currently, he serves as Assistant Division Chief at the Maryland State Department of Transportation (MDOT) leading the Maryland State Intelligent Transportation Systems deployments at Truck Weigh and Inspection Stations.
As the founder and President of Clarron Call Inc. USA, a non-profit organization that carters for the poor and less privileged especially in rural communities, his magnanimous leadership led to the establishment of Ogbuka Umekwe Hope Foundation (OUHF). This foundation is instrumental to the building of Upon This Rock Medical Center, Ozu Abam, offering free medical and surgical care to the least among us who needs it most. His efforts and commitments in drilling boreholes to provide clean water at community high schools has been a source of hope for students in rural areas.
James OUHF Micro-finance Program supports women and widows in rural areas with micro finance at zero percent interest to start up business in their communities..
His humanitarian network and partnership with the University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio was instrumental to the first historical kidney transplant in Southeast Nigeria, at the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia. His program still provides kidney transplant at FMC Umuahia, St. Nicholas, Lagos, Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, ORS Ogun State, etc.
James is the co-founder and President of Abam National Organization in the Americas.
He currently serves as the President General of Abia State Development Union in the Americas. (Washington DC Metro Area)
James is a highly disciplined, trusted, selfless and generous man with a big heart for his people. His passion and contributions to healthcare, education and human capacity building in Abia and Nigeria is incredible and exceptional.
He is married to his elegant wife Oluchi Umekwe with incredible and talented children, Madlen, Ogechi and Onyinyechi.