From a Facebook Group to a Movement: How Zack Onwe is Using Local Solutions to Drive Community Change

When Zack Onyebuchi Onwe created a small Facebook group in 2013, he had no idea he was starting a movement. All he wanted was to connect people from his hometown, Ntezi, in Ebonyi State, a small community in Ishielu Local Government, with big dreams but limited opportunities.

Born on October 1, 1992, in Ndiagueke, Ulepa Ntezi, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Zack’s early years were shaped by a keen awareness of the gap between his people’s potential and their progress. That awareness would later drive him into what would become a lifelong commitment to community-led development.

What began as a Facebook group called Ntezi People’s Forum (NPF) was initially meant to reconnect indigenes of Ntezi scattered across different cities and countries. But as discussions grew, the group evolved into something much larger, a social movement driven by collaboration, empathy, and action.

Over the past few years, several international development agencies have scaled back direct funding to grassroots projects in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. This shift has forced many small communities and organisations to rethink how they sustain local development.

But for Zack, the answer lies in self-reliance.

“What we’ve building with Ntezi People’s Forum shows that you don’t need to wait for external help to make progress,” he says. “Communities can pool their own resources, skills, and ideas to solve their problems.”

This belief has shaped NPF’s model of homegrown development, rooted in shared ownership and volunteerism.

By 2018, while in his final year at the University, Zack moved the Facebook conversations into a WhatsApp community to foster closer engagement. Within months, ideas turned into collective action, and members began contributing funds for small projects back home.

Local Action, Real Impact

The results of Zack’s community-driven approach soon became evident.
In 2020, he led the #GoodWaterIsLife campaign, a social media-driven fundraising effort that mobilized over ₦2.5 million to provide clean water for Ndiagueke and neighboring parts of Ntezi. The campaign’s success led to the drilling of two functional boreholes, demonstrating how digital storytelling and community trust can translate into real-world impact.

Following that success, NPF began the implementation of its annual education project.
In 2021, Zack and his team launched the Education Is Empowerment Initiative, a program designed to support students from low-income families in the five villages that make up the Orring speaking villages of Ntezi (Ulepa, Amata, Agaga, Iyorkpa, Biledeba) with school materials and tuition assistance.

For Zack, this initiative hits close to home.

“Many young people in Ebonyi struggle to access education because of poverty,” he explains. “But when one child gets an education, an entire family’s future can change. That’s why we keep pushing, because education is empowerment.”

A Voice for Local Solutions

A graduate of Zoology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Zack’s academic background gave him a strong appreciation for systems, both natural and social. He often describes development as “an ecosystem where everyone has a role.”

His journey into development communication grew out of curiosity, a desire to understand how storytelling, empathy, and technology can influence change. Today, he channels that passion into amplifying local voices, designing communication strategies, and nurturing community-led action.

“Development isn’t always about money,” Zack says. “It’s about trust, unity, and the willingness to do something, no matter how small. When people see results, they give more. That’s how we grow.”

The Power of Looking Inward
As the world witnesses a shift in foreign aid and global development priorities, Zack believes that the future of African communities depends on their ability to look inward, to identify local talents, leverage social capital, and create transparent systems that foster self-reliance.

Through the *Ntezi People’s Forum*, Zack continues to demonstrate that when communities take ownership of their destinies, they can thrive even without external funding. His story offers a blueprint for sustainable, grassroots-driven development — one that prioritizes people over politics and solutions over sympathy.

“You don’t have to be wealthy to make an impact,” he insists. “All you need is a willingness to care and a readiness to act.”

“You Can Be You Till Full”

That phrase “You can be you till full” has become Zack Onwe’s personal philosophy and signature message. It embodies his belief that transformation begins when people show up as their most authentic selves, fully, intentionally, and without waiting for permission.

Because when communities believe in themselves, nothing can stop their development.