Biafra Heroes Day In Focus *O JI ỤKWỤ EJE ABA, The Man Who Walked His Way into History.

Published On the Biafra Post
May 3, 2025

Long before buses roared down Eastern roads and transport companies became empires, there was a young boy from Nnewi who had nothing but hope, courage — and his two legs.

His name was Joseph Chukwuka Ulasi, born in 1890. But to his people, he became known as “O ji ụkwụ eje Aba” — the one who walks to Aba.

In the 1920s, when most were afraid to dream beyond their village, young Joseph would rise early and begin the long, tiring journey on foot from Nnewi to Aba. He wasn’t just walking — he was chasing a dream. In Aba, he started small, selling textiles and produce from makeshift roadside stalls. Day by day, sale by sale, he laid the bricks of a future he was determined to build.

His hustle paid off.

By 1933, Joseph had saved enough to buy six lorries — a feat that was unheard of at the time. He founded J.C. Ulasi Motors, a name that quickly became respected across the East. His work ethic caught the attention of the colonial authorities, and he secured a major mail delivery contract for the Eastern Provinces. That deal alone helped him grow his fleet to 14 lorries by 1935.

But Joseph wasn’t just building a business — he was building people. He brought in dozens of young men from Nnewi, trained them, and gave them a start. At one point, he was mentoring over 60 apprentices.

By the time he became a Warrant Chief in Aba, his legacy was already sealed.

Joseph died in June 1944, wealthy, respected, and fulfilled. But his journey didn’t end there — it sparked a movement. His kinsman, Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, would take over the roads in 1937 with Ojukwu Transport Company. His cousin, Chief Ejikeme Ilodibe, later founded the legendary Ekene Dili Chukwu.

It all started with one man. One dream. Two feet.

“O ji ụkwụ eje Aba” isn’t just a nickname — it’s a testimony. A reminder that greatness doesn’t always start with wealth. Sometimes, it starts with a walk, a will, and a heart that refuses to give up.

Let his story remind us: No journey is too far when purpose is calling.

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