Emeka Esogbue

 The Rare Picture of HRH Justina Okuakeleke Ntorka, the Last Omu of Onicha-Olona From the Pen Master Archives Here is a rare picture of HRH Justina Okuakeleke Ntorka, the last Omu of Onicha-Olona, a woman whose name remains etched in the history and memory of the community. Born Justina Monyei, she ceased to be known by that name following her coronation as the Omu of Onicha-Olona, assuming the royal identity and responsibilities that came with the revered stool. Historically, Omu Ntorka succeeded HRH Ada Ifesimehone Amambiwemdi-Okoh, one of the most remembered Omus in the modern history of Onicha-Olona. Born in 1906 at Idumugbe, Ogbe-Obi, Omu Amambiwemdi-Okoh occupies a special place in the community's history, particularly for the role attributed to her during the Nigerian Civil War, an episode preserved not only in historical accounts but also in the enduring oral traditions and legends of the people. With the planned installation of Cynthia Nwamaka Jibunoh, the recent history o...

 Expectant Mothers in Ibusa Receive Essential Newborn Care Packs from Anioma Watch Association By Peter Oshagwu Nearly 100 expectant mothers at the Ibusa Primary Health Care Centre, opposite St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, on Monday received essential mother-and-baby care packs donated by the Anioma Watch Association as part of its antenatal outreach programme. The initiative, which brought excitement to the beneficiaries, was designed to support expectant mothers with basic supplies ahead of childbirth and promote responsible motherhood in the Ibusa community. The event, which commenced at 11:00 a.m. with an opening prayer led by Miss Joy Ozeh, featured the introduction of members of the Anioma Watch Association, led by its President, Engr. Abela Emuebie. Welcoming participants, the Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees, Emeka Esogbue, explained that the New Life Care Pack was conceived to provide practical support to mothers preparing for childbirth. Esogbue expressed ...

 Omu Josephine Urges Ibusa Expectant Mothers to Raise Responsible Children By Emeka Esogbue The Omu of Ibusa, HRH Obi Josephine Isioma Nwannabuogwu, has urged expectant mothers in the community to embrace the responsibility of raising children who will grow into responsible, productive and valuable members of Ibusa society. Obi Josephine made the call while serving as Special Guest of Honour at an antenatal outreach programme organised by the Anioma Watch Association, a registered socio-cultural organisation of Anioma people, in Ibusa. Speaking to the expectant mothers, the Omu acknowledged the biological and physical challenges that accompany pregnancy, noting that such changes are normal aspects of the journey to motherhood. She, however, stressed the importance of proper upbringing, training and guidance in shaping children into responsible members of society. She encouraged the women to see motherhood as a major responsibility and to prepare themselves for the task of nurturing...

 Pen Master Unveils Photos of Cynthia Nwamaka Jibunoh, Set to Emerge as New Omu of Onicha-Olona For the first time, Pen Master is unveiling photographs of Cynthia Nwamaka Jibunoh, the woman widely favoured to succeed the late Omu Ntoka, the former Omu of Onicha-Olona, and assume the revered traditional leadership position of the community’s female institution. The development follows recent efforts by the Onicha-Olona community to revive its female traditional institution after a six-year interregnum. In the course of the process, Cynthia Nwamaka Jibunoh, an indigene of Idumu-Ozolumuna in the Ogbe-Obi axis of Onicha-Olona, has emerged as the leading candidate for the prestigious position. Her anticipated emergence is significant, as the installation will restore continuity to an institution that has remained without an Omu for six years. If installed as expected, Jibunoh will become the latest Omu in the Anioma region, further underscoring the cultural importance of the occasion. P...

 When the Living Must Not Dance: The Sacred Dance of Ibusa's Ulor By Emeka Esogbue During the Ulor Festival celebrated by the Umueze Quarters of the Ibusa community, there comes a solemn and mysterious moment when a particular dance is performed, one to which the living, even those gathered within the festival arena, must never surrender their bodies. At this sacred hour, the drummers sit or stand with their drums firmly secured between their legs, beating the resonant instruments with their bare hands. Elderly men and other ritual characters summon from the drums a deep, solemn rhythm, while sonorous male voices carry a hauntingly beautiful chant into the air. Yet, beautiful as the music may be, the living must not dance to it. This is a sacred dance offered to the ancestors, many of whom, while they walked the earth, once participated in the very festival now being celebrated in their honour. The music seems to belong to another realm: its melody is soulful, its rhythm hypnotic, ...

 Onicha-Olona to Install Nwamaka Jibunoh as the New Omu of the Community By Emeka Esogbue All is set for the people of Onicha-Olona, an ancient Anioma community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, to install Nwamaka Cynthia Jibunoh as the new Omu of the community. The installation ceremony is scheduled to take place on August 28, 2026, at Umuozolumuna, Ogbe-Obi Quarters, Onicha-Olona. In a message to the Ogbe-Obi family and the general public, the community called for collective prayers for the new Omu and expressed hope that her reign would usher in blessings, peace and greater development for Onicha-Olona. The message also charged the incoming female traditional leader to deploy her leadership to advance the fortunes of the community and take Onicha-Olona to greater heights. The installation will mark a new beginning since the passing of Omu Ntoka, the last Omu of the community. Before Omu Ntoka was Her Royal Highness Omu Ada Ifesimehone Amambiwemdi-Okoh. Onich...

 The Local Meaning Behind Ibusa’s “High Street” By Emeka Esogbue Pen Master "Pen Master explains the English origin; Onowu Chuks Esogbue explains the local resonance." After Pen Master (Emeka Esogbue) wrote his article on Ibusa’s Isieke High Street, titled “Isieke High Street, Ibusa: How an English Urban Concept Was Naturalized Within an Indigenous Settlement,” Onowu Chuks Esogbue followed up with a complementary contribution that enriches and deepens the account. While Pen Master’s article establishes the linguistic and historical thesis that Isieke High Street represents an example of an English urban concept being absorbed, adapted, and naturalized within an indigenous Nigerian setting, Onowu Chuks Esogbue’s response takes the discussion further by offering local reasons why the appellation “High” may have been particularly apt for Isieke, beyond the conventional British meaning of High Street. Onowu Chuks proposes that Isieke was “high” in several locally intelligible sen...

Asaba Set to Immortalize 1967 Massacre Victims with Monumental Memorial By Emeka Esogbue Pen Master Plans are underway in Asaba, the Delta State capital, to immortalize the victims of the October 1967 Asaba Massacre with a monumental memorial that will preserve their memory for generations to come. The initiative features prominently among the priorities of His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, the Asagba of Asaba, who has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the history, heritage and collective memory of the Asaba people. As part of the initiative, internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor Mr. Enyi Echezona Jr., a multi-talented painter and sculptor of Anioma origin, has been approached to develop the proposed memorial. Echezona has already presented a proposal for the construction of a gigantic symbolic monument dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during the tragic events of October 1967. The proposed monument is expected to serv...

 The Russia–Ukraine War: A Classroom in Post-WWII Diplomacy By Emeka Esogbue As a passionate student of history and diplomacy, I have followed the Russia–Ukraine war with more than ordinary interest because, beyond the battlefield itself, the conflict has become a remarkable demonstration of how post-World War II diplomacy actually operates. What we studied in classrooms as theories of alliances, strategic partnerships, deterrence and balance of power is being played out in real time. This makes sense to me more than the classroom explanations and illustrations by teachers. I am not listening to my lecturers or reading books on diplomacy but watching the conflict play out exactly the way a passionate student of the subject will understand it. Russia, China, North Korea, Ukraine, Turkey and the USA appear to be practicalizing the warfare for us, the students. The war is, on the surface, a conventional conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But beneath that conventional warfare lies a ...