My People Are Behind My Omu Ibusa Ambition And My Age Is My Advantage

My People Are Behind My Omu Ibusa Ambition And My Age Is My Advantage

 

-       Josephine Nwannabuogwu

 

PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) went in search of Josephine Nwannabuogwu, the Mazone Foundation and much publicized or reported hopeful of the revered Omuship of the Ibusa people to hear from the Umuodafe-born former music performer. In this interview, the music producer, philanthropist and Head of Mazone Stitches speaks about her career in the entertainment industry, the intention and interest in the Omuship of the Ibusa people, foundation, welfare of the youths of the community and the Igbuzo Singles Meet experience. Excerpts:  

 

Pen Master: Who's Josephine Nwannabuogwu? Please permit our readers to meet you.

 

Nwannabuogwu: Thank you very much sir, Pen Master. I am Josephine Isioma Nwannabuogwu and I hail from the quarter of Umuodafe in Ibusa, Delta State. Happily, I am a product of Enugu State University of Science and Technology with B.Sc. in Accounting. Apart from the purpose of education which took me to the school, I really had some nice time at the institution because I made a lot of friends and learnt a lot from the people around me at the time. You need to know that I am ambitious, very passionate with goal driven faculties. Maybe I don’t let challenges hold me down because I am a happy person all the time and I constantly set goals for myself, so I must have something to strive for and attain. I am not comfortable with idleness so, I am always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness for myself and others.

 

Pen Master: Alright Josephine Nwannabuogwu, like many, I noticed that you started so well in the Nigerian music industry, putting the Ibusa in name in the industry and your album was a chat buster so to speak, as considered by many then so also your musical video released alongside your musical work but now, many are wondering why you had to stop suddenly and prematurely in spite of initial successes recorded by you.

 

Nwannabuogwu: My music was a success in 2008 before climaxing in 2009, the year I reached the pinnacle of my career. In all modesty, I also believe that I was among the first female artists of the time in Nigeria to really get huge publicity before the time of Sasha and a whole lot of other female artists which assisted me anyway. But I had to choose between furthering in my education and my musical career and off-course, I chose to pursue my education as would be expected being that getting sponsors at that time was really a difficult task, something that required maybe a lot more. I also think that only a few investors understood the entertainment industry at that time despite several claims so one was at the risk of ending up to get the unexpected if he was not careful. After my youth service, there were lots of responsibilities waiting for me that I couldn’t afford to launch back my musical career. So I had the option to move on to other areas of interest in business. In all, I assure you that I am still into entertainment but more into financing, sponsorship and production. Recently, I produced a gospel album for a female artist which I believe did so well in the market.

 

Pen Master: Okay, but now, I know you run a charity organization called Home of Mercy Foundation and also a fashion outfit in Ibusa. Is this a make up for your exit of the music industry?

 

Nwannabuogwu: Thank you but I would not premise my Foundation on business category at all. I have various charity organizations with which I have reached out to people in need within our society. One of these is called Home of Mercy Foundation which is properly registered with CAC. It’s my own little way of giving back to the less-privileged in my immediate community for now. I have this nature that abhors to see people suffering over one need or the other. These sorts of complaints move me. Nobody was made by God to suffer but maybe bad influence of the society, bad governance as the case maybe, maybe other circumstances beyond our control bred it but we must strive to be of assistance to the less-privileged which is quite cardinal. My own background throws up another factor. I grew up not having most basics and I understand what it means to not have them to pursue happiness. Let us say, I have been able to use my contacts, connections to give back to the society and ready to do more within my capacity and by the special grace of God. I see myself as the middleman between the wealthy and the less-privileged., the influential and the deprived. Talking about Mazone, it is my company. It’s more like a group of companies because I have the entertainment business and also the fashion business and am still open to more opportunities. Take for instance, we are planning the project, “Send Back a Child to School” which will plan to hold in Ibusa on December 31 of this year. It is aimed at assisting the less-privileged children in my community.

 

Pen Master: Josephine Nwannabuogwu, you are from Ibusa. Why is it that not much of Non-Governmental Organizations exist to cater for the community especially the youths?

 

Nwannabuogwu: Hmm! Let me say that as you ask this very question, I get confused because I really don’t know who to blame for that but I know that before now, some of our youths never really showed interest in so many positive opportunities that awaited them while most others do. On the other hand, many who showed interest were either disappointed, ignored or neglected in our community through various means I cannot go into now. Well, you must also understand that in this Ibusa community, we still have a few Igbuzo men and women who have taken it upon themselves to help the youth in many ways they can. And this happened through their personal support or through government collaborations and even through their own private organizations. I am hopeful that more organizations that could be the state, national or international bodies will remember our youths now. I know that the Ibusa youths are now wide awake and waiting to embrace any opportunity thrown at them now. Happily, too, the Ibusa Youth Council as I understand it have started to do their best in this area of youth development. We cannot also rule out the efforts of personalities from the community who have given their best towards the wellbeing of the Ibusa youth.

 

Pen Master: Now, Josephine Nwannabuogwu, let us take a look at your cultural ambition in Omuship of your people. I noticed that a number of indigenes refer to you as the 'Omu' of the community even when the community is yet to conclude the rites. Is it a matter of interest for you or just the opinion of your kinsmen who think the Omu cap fits you?

 

Nwannabuogwu: (Gives a very long laughter). Well, Pen Master, it is my personal cultural ambition to take up the Omu mantle. Maybe I should say it is my own way of fulfilling the expectations of the ancestors of the Ibusa. Anyway, over the time, my kinsmen were able to understand my aspirations and ambition. It is interesting that at first, they shared some concerns but over the time too, they came to now see that by every cultural standard, I am well-positioned. My people are solidly behind me because they are convinced in my ability to serve our community as the Omu and I am prepared for this task. And truly, I am convinced in myself that I have all it takes to be the Omu of one of the greatest communities in Anioma, the Ibusa community with enormous cultural wealth.

 

Pen Master: …But what was their concern initially?

 

Nwannabuogwu: Some of them were first and foremost concerned about my age but became persuaded that my age is a great advantage, knowing that in whatever is considered disadvantageous also comes with advantages. Truly, I know that the advantages in my youthfulness overwhelm the disadvantages. As the Omu, my people have a lot to benefit from my age. Generally speaking, the advantage of my young age is not just in my own interest but also for the Omu stool and the Ibusa community as a whole. That’s the message I pass.

 

Pen Master: I may ask you personally if this issue of youthfulness gives you some unease knowing that your people first raised it and whether you have …

 

Nwannabuogwu: (Laughs and raises her hands in surprise). It doesn’t trouble me in anyway. I don’t think about it because I believe the gods to be wise. They know the beginning and the end. Like I told most people that came to me with this concern. I see my youthfulness as the advantage of the institution. Don’t forget too that I will not make the first Omu of Ibusa from my lineage. Omu Ogoli, the matriarch of my family also served Ibusa in this regard. Till date, during the raining season, when you come to my place, you are sure to find the whitish ground of “nzu”. How is age an issue when in nearby Ukala Uno, an Omu of younger age was installed just a month ago? Pen Master, we, the Igbuzo people are moving with the tide and hoping for the best. As it is, we want the Omu, our traditional women leader to join others in contributing to the development of our people. When the Omus from other Anioma communities gather, our Igbuzo should be in representation and not left out. We should take our rightful place and not miss in action. I hope you understand. Before I forget to tell you, the newly installed Omu of Ukala is my friend.

 

Pen Master: What is the attraction of this age-long female institution for you especially when majority Igbuzo women do not find it welcoming in this modern era?

 

Nwannabuogwu: I am interested in the preservation of our culture first and foremost, and to render unequalled and appreciable service to my community. I grew up in the midst of people who practiced our cultures and people who loved and respected our traditions but that is difficult to find now in the era of great civilization and denials of the things that we once held dear. So it’s so disappointing for me really to see our age-long institution diminishing. Our culture is our culture and our tradition is our tradition. It’s ours and I embrace it whole heartedly. Omuship is one of the oldest institutions in Anioma and actually the oldest in some Anioma communities. In Ibusa, this institution played significant roles that impacted positively on the cultural lives of our people. That this institution is still present in Asaba, Okpanam, Onicha-Olona and bigger cities of Anioma shows its relevance. We should salute those that have worked over the time to preserve it for our people. This is where the current tireless Omu of Okpanam/Anioma, HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu matters to the Anioma people. She took Omuship farther than expectation and became herself, the Omu mmovement. The Omu of Okpanam/Anioma, HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu took it upon herself to give me cultural exposure on Omuship and also to teach and guide me. Her open-hearted gesture shows how much a global village the Anioma community has become and how sisterly our various communities consider ourselves. I really express my gratitude to her in no small way. I thank you, Pen Master especially, and all those who worked to preserve for us this institution. Okay, but beyond what is already known, with modern development, Omuship is proving to be the vehicle for women development in modern era of Anioma and also a traditional and natural means of women movement for our people.  

 

Pen Master: Some Ibusa youths complain that most empowerments in the community occur selectively and the selection mostly favours those that run after the politicians in the name of politics. Nwannabuogwu, how true is this?

 

Nwannabuogwu: …Well, Pen Master, some Ibusa leaders are really carrying their youths along while a whole lot of leaders are also shying away from giving back to the community and the youths depending on how you see that side of the coin. I can’t tell their reason though but If permitted, I can mention a few leaders who believe so much in the youth and have given so much in the uplifting of the youths. But we need more hands on the desk to make our community great and since the youths are the leaders of tomorrow as they say it. A lot of empowerment should start with the youths.

 

Pen Master: Share some Ibusa experiences with us.

 

Nwannabuogwu: I started the Ibusa relationship so early with my first major experience being the Igbuzo Singles Meet Worldwide, the youth organizations for singles of Ibusa. I could say my welfare experiences in relations to the Ibusa environment was preparatory to what you see in me today since I was the head of the Welfare Department of the Organization and by that position, also the Welfare office of the Association. My membership of that organization exposed me to a lot of Ibusa experiences. I understand my people and my people understand me. I am also a member of the People of Oshimili North where we have a lot of our Ibusa people. I have been very close to our people and I appreciate them immensely.    

 

Pen Master: So far, what have been your biggest regrets in life?

 

Nwannabuogwu: There cannot be any human being on earth without any regrets at all. As for Isioma Nwannabuogwu, I am where God wants me to be. This is what matters. I am a happy person. The rest of my destiny is in the hands of God. Every challenge I have had in the past has been a lesson. You, Historians say so.

 

Pen Master: (laughing aloud). Anyway, tell us more about this Isioma Nwannabuogwu

 

Nwannabuogwu: She is a loving and caring person. Compassionate and highly humane. I think others first with the burning desire every time to serve humanity. The desire cannot be contained.

 

Pen Master: Nice speaking to you, Josephine Nwannabuogwu

 

Nwannabuogwu: It’s a great privilege and a pleasure on my part also. Thank you, sir.