In a bold display of hometown pride and entrepreneurial swagger, Nigerian nightlife mogul and socialite Cubana Chief Priest (real name Paschal Chibuike Okechukwu) has taken to social media to showcase a gleaming, self-financed road project in his native Owerri, urging fans to redirect their energies – and wallets – toward building up their roots rather than chasing foreign dreams.
The 40-year-old hype man, known for his lavish lifestyle, celebrity endorsements, and unapologetic Igbo flair, dropped the eye-popping reveal on Instagram late Thursday, sharing a montage of drone footage and on-ground clips highlighting the freshly paved street lined with modern buildings. “CP no small! I built this road myself in Owerri – my only house on this street, but the whole community benefits,” Chief Priest captioned the post, flashing his signature gold chains and a triumphant grin as he cruised down the smooth asphalt in a convoy of luxury whips. Hashtags like #InvestAtHome, #Iheabata1ofOwerri, and #CPisNotSmall trended within hours, amassing over 1.2 million views and a flood of fire emojis from admirers.
The project, which Chief Priest estimates cost him several million naira out of pocket, isn’t just asphalt and ambition – it’s a personal flex rooted in his rags-to-riches backstory. A Federal Polytechnic Nekede alum who bootstrapped his first million selling shoes on campus back in the early 2010s, the Owerri native has long poured his nightlife empire profits – from his flagship Club Xhrine to high-profile gigs with the Cubana Group – back into Imo State. This road joins a growing list of his local investments, including a sprawling glass mansion equipped with remote-controlled toilets (a 2022 viral moment) and the recent grand opening of his opulent hotel, which drew A-list star power like Davido for the ribbon-cutting. “I left Lagos money to come build here. Why send your sweat abroad when you can plant it where it grows?” he challenged in a follow-up Story, scrolling through stats on Nigerian youth remittances topping $25 billion annually to overseas economies.
Chief Priest’s message struck a chord in a nation grappling with brain drain and infrastructure woes, where federal road projects often lag behind private hustles. “This is for every young blood thinking Dubai is the move. Invest at home – build your street, employ your people, own your legacy,” he boomed in the video, his voice echoing over the hum of construction crews wrapping up final touches. Fans piled on: “Oga, you’re the blueprint! #InvestAtHome is my new mantra,” tweeted one supporter, while another quipped, “From throwing naira to paving roads – evolution of CCP!” Critics, however, weren’t entirely silent, with a few jabs at his 2024 naira abuse charges surfacing in replies, though the post’s energy drowned them out.
This isn’t Chief Priest’s first rodeo in hometown heroism. Just months ago, during his star-studded birthday bash in Owerri, he turned the streets into a carnival of giveaways, doling out food packs, cash, and even plot allocations to hundreds of locals. Sources close to the entrepreneur whisper that the road – dubbed “Chief Priest Way” by grateful residents – was sparked by years of complaints about pothole-riddled access to his properties. “He saw the need, wrote the check, and made it happen. No grants, no drama,” one insider shared. With Imo State’s gubernatorial elections looming in 2027, whispers of political ambitions swirl around the socialite, though he insists, “I’m no politician – just a priest blessing my people.”
As Nigeria’s creator economy booms and influencers like Chief Priest (boasting 5.8 million Instagram followers) wield more sway than traditional philanthropists, his call to “invest at home” could spark a ripple. Will it inspire a wave of mini-infra projects from the diaspora? Or is it just another viral moment in the life of a man who once quipped, “Money no fit spoil for body”? Either way, Owerri’s newest thoroughfare is rolling proof: When CCP says build, the world listens – and drives smoother for it.