He is the founder of the Samuel Maduka Onyishi African Entrepreneurship Foundation (SAMOAEF), a foundation which among others, gives scholarship annually to more than 150 students from different institutions in Nigeria. In 2019, he received an award from the Chinese Alumni Association of Nigeria, as an 'Outstanding Nigerian Advocate on China/Nigeria Relations'. The Alumni recognition was part of the 1st October Awards, for the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, and Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary. On November 10, 2019, Dr Sam Onyishi received the 2019 Prestigious Business Integrity Award by Business Hallmark   He earned an honorary Doctor of Business Administration in May 2013, from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. His Alma Mata, University of Nigeria, Nsukka also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Business Administration  On September 17, 2012, the President Goodluck Jonathan led government honoured him and 154 others with the award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)