Mr. Jeremiah Chukwuemeka Esogbue (fondly referred to as EMEKA ESOGBUE) is a renowned Anioma Historian, Journalist, Writer and Anioma Advocate. Born on June 6, 1970, to the family of Esogbue in Umuafene, Isieke, Umuekea in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. His parents were Patrick Chukwudumebi and Theresa Nwasiwe Esogbue. His father Onowu Dumebi Esogbue was said to be a member of the defunct Biafran Commando unit during the Nigerian Civil War. His grandfather was Joseph Ozoemezie Esogbue, the first engine driver produced by Ibusa.
Emeka Esogbue attended State Primary school, Lagos (1976–1982), later Agboju Secondary School (1983–1988) and Lagos State University (2000–2006). He was nominated the Peer Group Coordinator and Public Relations Officer of Pan African Agency for AIDS and Drug Abuse (PANCADA) (2001–2003). He started his journalistic practice (though informally untrained) with the defunct Festac News, a local newspaper in the 1990s reporting for the media outfit. He was also a contributor to Ibusa Pathfinder an Ibusa newsletter. Emeka went on to join Trade Africa, publishers of Africa Global Business magazine, Lagos-based media outfit in 2009 as a member of the Editorial Executive. In 2010, he was a contributor with Gold Fad, an Ekiti-based magazine. Esogbue served as Senior Editor of Homage Magazine and worked from 2011 to January 2014 as the Associate Editor of Anioma Essence, a cultural magazine.
As a historian, Emeka Esogbue favours the use of historical continuity in rendering past accounts and digging into the history of the Anioma people. His emphasizes on the origin and inter-tribal relationship of the Anioma people of Delta, Anambra, Imo, Edo and Rivers States of Nigeria. Esogbue has in his writings passionately criticized the near assimilation of the Anioma people by related ethnic groups in the country and many of his works are centered on this.
Pen Master, as he is fondly called —has conducted considerable researches on Anioma aimed at digging up the origin of the people mostly concentrated in the Delta North of Delta State. The employment of oral sources is considered his major style in weighing and achieving flow of historical link. He has also sought to know the origin of Umejei the founder of Ibusa. He has embarked on numerous historical research. Severally, he has moved for the development of the Ibusa community especially, craving support for investments in the town. Esogbue is the founder and initiator of Ibusa Singles Meet(ISM), an organization concerned with the promotion of Ibusa inter-marriage. He is also the co-founder of Ibusa Like-minds Association, an Ibusa-based youth empowerment organization.
Esogbue has written on many subjects. Some of his published works include: Origin and Migration Studies of Anioma Settlements (2015), A Short History of Omu (2016), Essentials of Anioma History , and A History of Ibusa (2021). He has also written articles on the political front of his country, and has in several of his writings condemned the policies of the government of Nigeria, which in his own opinion have visited the citizens with unbearable hardships.
Emeka is Special Correspondent with Ibusa Development Project, Atlanta, USA; reporter, Daily Eagle (online magazine); Publicity Manager QSB Entertainment, organizers of the Most Beautiful Girl in Ibusa; publisher Who’s Who in Anioma and Who’s Who in Ibusa (online publications). In December 2010, Esogbue was nominated for the Igbo Legendary Lectures/Awards, which honour Igbo legends who have distinguished themselves and helped to redefine Igbo consciousness and collective aspiration of the people.
He is a two-time nominee of Umu-Igbuzor Man of the Year award in December 21, 2012 and December 30, 2013. An award which he eventually won the following year. Nominated “Who’s Who in Ibusa, 2011”, and “Who’s Who in Anioma, 2011”. A similar nomination also came from an Anioma group in Georgia, USA.
Apart from his research engagements, it is worthy of note to mention that Elder Emeka Esogbue is happily married to beautiful Madam Lilian Elochukwu Esogbue, and the union is blessed with two daughters Miss Onyebuchi Gabriella Esogbue and Miss Chukwudumebi Raphaella Esogbue.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEN MASTER!!!
– My name is Austine O. Nwulia, and I approve this message.
