Celebrating the Ibusa Female Gender: The Ibusa Woman, the Ibusa Power

 Celebrating the Ibusa Female Gender: The Ibusa Woman, the Ibusa Power

- Emeka Esogbue 

On April 2 2021, I wrote an article that identified the contributions of Ibusa women to the development of the community. This version, which emphasizes the unsung contributions of the gender with a call for deeper appreciation in this regard, speaks of the Ibusa woman by nativity and marriage and why their efforts should match their male counterparts with greater celebrations.

Typical of African societies, Ibusa, a close-knit society of people with a long-standing history of homogenous origin and cultural affinity in Delta State, Nigeria, captures the overall sense or commonly held African system in which female achievers are rarely celebrated or where possible, not celebrated like their male counterparts. 

There is no doubt that the Ibusa society has had mothers, wives, sisters, and girls who have played important roles in the development of the community since history but they are celebrated only in rareness. Although many Ibusa women are revered for their formidable excellent achievements, their names are rarely heard. 

More shocking it is to understand that like the typical Anioma society, the community has hardly reserved any ancient traditional institution, traditional or honorary chieftaincy titles for the womenfolk apart from the well-known Omuship of the people. If they ever exist, they are countable on the people's finger tips.

The Ibusa community has had several female achievers whose excellent testimonial contributions to societal growth are well known. Their fame has also spread far and wide. 

Such established women include Dr Mrs. Princess Pat Adankele Ajudua who may be considered the most successful Ibusa woman in partisan politics in terms of long service and by election. Dr. Adankele, a professional legal practitioner, banker, administrator, and former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Minority Leader (2007 - 2011,) and Chief Whip (2015 - 2023), is at present the longest-serving female member of the Delta State House of Assembly in Oshimili North and the overall longest serving member of the House of Assembly in Oshimili North. Pat Adankele Ajudua, Ph.D. enjoys greater popularity in the town. 

The late Prof Onyebuchi Emecheta popularly called "Buchi Emecheta" was a novelist whose fame spread far and wide. She was once considered 'African richest female writer.' In her prime, she had her books travel globally. Prof Emecheta was a household name particularly in Nigeria, UK and across other continents who left a footprint in the world of literature, also taking the Ibusa name and culture the world. Buch was post humously honoured in 2017 by the Ibusa Community Development Union Worldwide under the leadership of Dr. Austin Izagbo. Aware of her phenomenal contributions to Ibusa, seen mostly by the educated, Buchi Emecheta has had to make references to these contributions. 

One of the most successful Ibusa and indeed Nigerian women today in terms of business activities, is Dame Winifred Akpani. Dame Winifred Akpani is the owner and Managing Director of Northwest Petroleum and Gas Co Ltd. She may well pass for the most experienced Ibusa businesswoman. The Ibusa people proudly remembers that wherever the services of Northwest Petroleum is served, the Ibusa foundational efforts goes with it and this is Dame Winifred Akpani at work. Above all, she represents the hard work in Ibusa, Anioma, Nigerian and African women. 

Prof Ifeoma Linda Utomi is the wife of Prof Pat Okedinachi Utomi, the political scientist and a former Nigerian presidential aspirant. Prof Ifeoma is a Professor of Orthodontics/Consultant Orthodontist at the Department of Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Although Prof Ifeoma Utomi is an indigene of the community by marriage, she is no less the typical Ibusa woman who is for Ibusa. Philanthropic Prof Utomi is also the leader of Ibusa Professional Women. 

Omoni Oboli, married to Ibusa's Nnamdi Oboli was Born in Benin City, Edo State. Ononi is a renowned actress and script director. She is today, one of the best-known faces in the industry where women initially struggled to keep the tide. Omoni, who became married to Nnamdi in the year 2000, is also a producer and digital filmmaker who has written several screenplays. Although many Ibusa people would like to familiarly see the Omoni faces more Ibusa socio-organizational connections and other social reach-out, Omoni is no less, proud an Ibusa woman. 

Perhaps, Ibusa's most popular Ibusa female face is Beverly Ifunaya Bassey, the British-born Nigerian actress also professionally called "Beverly Naya." Since beginning her career in 2008, beautiful Beverly has won many laudable awards in the industry. The 'screen girl' also enjoys wider media coverage. Naya probably needs to leave her footprints in Ibusa and Ibusa as the complete Ibusa woman that she is. 

In sports, Ibusa women have also made positive impacts. Evelyn Nwabuoku is an ex-Nigerian International and former Captain of the Super Falcons. She captained the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Nwabuoku helped Nigeria to win the 2014 African Women's Championship and Nigerian Women's Cup. Evelyn Nwabuoku is the first Ibusa woman to play at the World Cup. Sadly, she is hardly remembered or talked about by the society that she hails. Her people may well have chosen to speak more about the politicians.