About the Author 

Ichie (Engr.) Godwin Ubanyionwu, P.E. (Ugochinyere 1 of Amesi) is a visionary engineer, memoirist, and cultural advocate whose life bridges continents and cultures. Born  in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, and raised in the resilient village of Amesi in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State, he overcame early struggles with perseverance, faith, and an unyielding dream to reach the United States.

From 1997 to 2020, Godwin played a central leadership role at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), managing and constructing multimillion-dollar highway projects, including El Paso’s landmark I-10 Americas Interchange, US 62/180, and Loop 375—projects that transformed the city’s transportation landscape.

Beyond engineering, he is deeply committed to community and cultural development. In Nigeria, he has contributed to his hometown of Amesi through philanthropy, cultural advocacy, and leadership, earning chieftaincy honors as Ugochinyere 1 of Amesi.

His memoir, The Boy Who Dreamed of America: A Memoir of Struggle, Hope, and Belonging from the Heart of Igboland to the Soul of Texas, captures his extraordinary journey from the heart of Igboland to the soul of Texas, reflecting resilience, hope, and the transformative power of education, ambition, and community.