Samuel Adinofu Dowden Unachukwu (later known as Omenka Nnewi), was born in Nigeria in 1934. He was educated at Okongwu Memorial Grammar School in Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State, and initially took up teaching at St. Peter’s Anglican School in Enugu. However, he was to change career path and joined the Ministry of Works in Enugu, who sponsored his architectural studies at the Nigerian College of Science and Technology in Zaria (now the Ahmadu Bello University). His potential was clearly recognised and the Ministry also sponsored Samuel to enrol in 1965 on the ‘Educational Building Course’ run by the Architectural Association’s (AA) Department of Tropical Architecture, in London. After successfully graduating, Unachukwu returned to his post at the Ministry of Works, where he held the privilege of being the first formally qualified architect from Nnewi. Following a period with the Ministry of Works, he established his own private practice, Unachukwu and Associates, and amongst many of his important works are the Anaedo Hall, Otolo, Nnewi (1977), the House of Assembly in Makurdi, Benue State, and the design of refugee shelters during the Nigerian Civil War. His practice appears to have specialised in Anglican churches, working on Saint Barth’s Anglican Church (Asata, Enugu), Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church (Abapke, Enugu) and Saint Thomas Anglican Church (Otolo, Nnewi). Unachukwu was also active in the commercial realm and made major contributions to the master plan for Abuja as well as the Lake Resort developments at Oguta, Agulu and Nike. Omenka Nnewi sadly passed away, aged 90, in 2024.

 Sources

• Architectural Association Student Register, 1945-71. AA Archives
• Architectural Association Council Minutes, 26th April, 1965
• Architectural Association Council Minutes, 9th January, 1967
• Architectural Association Membership Register, 1969
• Architectural Association Membership Register, 1974
• Federal Republic of Nigeria Gazette, 9th July, 1970.
• ‘A Brief Biography of Samuel Adinofu Dawden Unachukwu (Omenka Nnewi). Edited by Chukwumaife C.F. Okeke-Enyobi.’ Facebook post, Nkanuzu Nnewi, 29th August, 2024. Accessed 1st December, 2025: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=545780474551915