A Memoir of Struggle, Hope, and Belonging from the Heart of Igboland to the Soul of Texas 

From the red earth of Amesi to the highways of El Paso, this memoir bears witness to what becomes possible when hope travels across borders and perseverance refuses surrender.

The Boy Who Dreamed of America traces a journey shaped by discipline, faith, education, and cultural identity; a life lived between continents and anchored in resilience.

Back-Cover Blurb

The Boy Who Dreamed of America

A Memoir of Struggle, Hope, and Belonging — from the Heart of Igboland to the Soul of Texas

From the red earth of rural Amesi to the sun-scorched highways of West Texas, this stirring memoir traces the remarkable journey of Ichie (Engr.) Godwin Ubanyionwu; a young boy who dared to dream of America with nothing but faith, resilience, and an unshakable sense of purpose.

Through poverty, civil war, and near-impossible odds, he charts a path from the classrooms of Igboland to the corridors of American academia and engineering leadership. Along the way, he endures rejection, betrayal, and legal battles, eking out survival as a dishwasher and fighting for a foothold in a new world; while carrying the hopes of his family, his people, and his heritage.

The Boy Who Dreamed of America is not merely a tale of survival; it is a powerful testament to courage, perseverance, and the enduring flame of diasporic identity. It is about finding belonging where none seemed to exist, and rising to shape highways not just of concrete, but of hope; across continents, cultures, and generations.

“It is in the mirror of his parents and close relatives that a child finds the true measure of his being, and the method for dealing with the vicissitudes of life.”

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From the red earth of Amesi to the highways of El Paso, this memoir bears witness to what becomes possible when hope travels across borders and perseverance refuses surrender.

A journey shaped by discipline, faith, education, and cultural identity; a life lived between continents and anchored in resilience.

About the Memoir

A Journey Across Continents

This memoir chronicles the extraordinary journey of Ichie (Engr.) Godwin Ubanyionwu, P.E., from a small village in Amesi, Nigeria, to the wide deserts of El Paso, Texas.

It is a story of perseverance shaped by education, faith, and an unwavering determination to rise beyond circumstance. Crossing continents in pursuit of opportunity, the author navigates hardship, cultural transition, and the demanding path of professional and personal growth.

Along the way, the narrative reveals not only the struggles of immigration and study, but also the quiet strength of family, heritage, and identity that sustained the journey.

At its heart, the memoir affirms a timeless truth: that beginnings do not define destiny; discipline, courage, and perseverance do.

A Life Preserved in Memory

Every journey leaves its footprints; not only in words, but in the images, documents, and symbols that preserve memory.

This memoir gathers the tangible echoes of a life lived across continents: the red earth of Amesi, the desert highways of El Paso, the halls of honor where titles were bestowed, and the quiet strength of family through generations.

These photographs, maps, and certificates are more than records; they are enduring witnesses of hope, labor, and legacy.

Recognition 

A Story That Resonated

The Boy Who Dreamed of America rose to #1 New Release status in Nigeria, West Africa, and across the African continent, a testament to the enduring power of a story told with sincerity, perseverance, and faith.

Preface

A personal reflection on the journey behind the memoir.

There comes a time in a man’s life when memory becomes more than recollection; it becomes a duty. This memoir is my humble attempt to fulfill that duty: to preserve the remarkable journey of a village boy from Amesi, a quiet town nestled in the heart of Anambra State, Nigeria, who dared to dream beyond the dust-laden footpaths of home and chart a course to America in the late 1970s; with little more than faith in God and fire in his spirit.

I was neither backed by financial privilege nor buoyed by powerful connections. I crossed oceans armed only with determination, a hunger for education, and an unyielding belief in divine providence. What followed was a pilgrimage through hardship, hope, rejection, renewal, and ultimately, fulfillment. That journey; though intensely personal is, I believe, also universal. For within it lie lessons of grit, grace, and the stubborn refusal to surrender to circumstance.

This book is, in part, a response to the many who have asked, “How did you do it? How did you secure a visa to the United States without help, and survive the crucible of daily struggles with no external support?” It is especially written for my children; whose questions stirred memories I had tucked away for decades, and whose curiosity inspired me to excavate this path of becoming. They deserve to know the truth of my origin, not as folklore, but as testimony.

Above all, this memoir is an ode to the indomitable human spirit. It is a reaffirmation that destiny is not dictated by one’s beginnings, but shaped by persistence, resilience, and clarity of purpose. Yes, life will erect obstacles; some towering and relentless, but no mountain is unconquerable when met with courage, preparation, and a humble heart that seeks wisdom from the right sources.

To the reader, whether young or old, immigrant or native-born, dreamer or doubter, I offer these pages not as a blueprint, but as a beacon. May you draw strength from my trials, insight from my detours, and above all, hope from my endurance.

Hold fast to your convictions. Dare to believe in the improbable. And when the road narrows, press on still. For sometimes, the smallest beginnings birth the grandest legacies.

— Ichie (Engr.) Godwin Ubanyionwu, P.E. (Ugochinyere I of Amesi)

About the Author

Ichie (Engr.) Godwin Ubanyionwu, P.E. is a Nigerian-born engineer, educator, and writer whose life bridges continents and cultures. Raised in Amesi in Anambra State, Nigeria, he pursued education with determination that eventually carried him to the United States.

Over more than three decades he contributed to major transportation infrastructure projects in Texas while remaining deeply connected to his cultural heritage and community in Nigeria.

Through The Boy Who Dreamed of America, he shares a journey shaped by perseverance, faith, and the enduring belief that discipline and education can transform a life.

Some journeys begin with opportunity. Others begin with courage.

This one began with a dream.