ABOUT: Ikwuano Umuahia Association Chicago
Preserving IGBO traditions while building inclusive partnerships that benefit Chicagoland and Igboland.
Ikwuano Umuahia Association (IUA), Chicago is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Igbo heritage while building meaningful connections across cultures. We educate Chicagoland residents on the richness of Igbo culture while ensuring our traditions are preserved both here and in Nigeria, so the next generation can carry them forward.
Funds we raise not only support economic, educational, healthcare, and social development in Nigeria’s Igboland, but also benefit residents of Chicago through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations. In this way, IUA serves as a bridge: celebrating Igbo traditions while strengthening the broader community we call home.
What Has IUA Done for the Community it Represents?
IUA Chicago is deeply committed to serving both the local community here in Chicagoland and our brothers and sisters in Nigeria’s Igboland. In 2025, we sponsored and fully funded 54 life-changing surgeries for residents of Umuahia. Ranging from gynecological procedures to hernia repairs and cataract removals, with all treatment and aftercare 100% covered by IUA Chicago. We also partnered with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA) in 2024 to provide vital health education and medical services. In past years we have organized past medical missions which focused on diabetes and high blood pressure awareness and treatment.
Here in Chicago, we have carried out Thanksgiving drives to support families in need and are actively building partnerships with local nonprofits to expand our impact. Whether through healthcare missions abroad or community support at home, our work reflects IUA’s commitment to preserving culture, improving quality of life, and strengthening communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
