Ubabukoh Unveils 87-Year-Old Building as New Igbo-Ukwu Tourist Attraction

A wooden-and-brick building completed in 1939 could become one of Igbo-Ukwu’s newest tourist attractions. Journalist Ozioma Ubabukoh has unveiled his grandfather’s 87-year-old storey building and plans to restore it for visitors.

Ubabukoh said the building was constructed by his grandfather, Chief John Ubabukoh, a year after the discovery of Igbo-Ukwu’s famous ninth-century roped bronze pot. He described it as the first storey building in the wider Aguata local government area.

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We want to promote the tourism of our community.

The journalist and media consultant inherited the property after the death of his father, Ifeanyi Ubabukoh, who had inherited it as Chief John Ubabukoh’s first son. Although other family members are still alive, Ubabukoh said the property passed to him as his father’s first son.

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We want to project Igbo-Ukwu as the cultural and tourism capital of Anambra State.

“We want to promote the tourism of our community,” Ubabukoh told reporters during a tour of the building. He said Igbo-Ukwu’s cultural importance, its museum and its traditional heritage could support a stronger tourism identity for the town. He also hopes the old building will appeal to filmmakers looking for historic locations for epic films.

Family members and a family friend recalled that people travelled from far away to admire the house when it was completed in the late 1930s. Emeka Ubabukoh said Chief John Ubabukoh had taken time to build it to a high standard and that some of his household items remain inside. Ubabukoh said he wants Igbo-Ukwu to become Anambra State’s cultural and tourism capital.

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Our father was the richest in this community then, and I must say that it took him quite some time to complete the building because he wanted it to be of top standard.