Emeka Esogbue

 Facts About Rev Fr Carlo Zappa and His Christianization of the Enuani Area  - Emeka Esogbue Perhaps, no Christian missionary played a greater role in the evangelization of the Enuani Region of Anioma as did Rev Fr. Carlo Zappa. Fr. Zappa played a significant role in Christianizing the Enuani area of Anioma. * He was born in Milan, Italy on December 23, 1861 and was ordained a priest on June 8, 1884.  * Fr Zappa was sent to Asaba by the Poirier because Sir Robert Marshal, an official of the Royal Niger Company with its headquarters in Asaba insisted that he was needed. * He served in the Society of African Missions.  * He was later appointed the Prefect of the Upper Niger * He established the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the first church in Asaba in 1888. * Rev Fr Zappa moved the Roman Catholic mission headquarters from Lokoja to Asaba * The Asaba site was purchased for the missionaries by Sir James Marshal. * He was in Issele-Uku, Ibusa, Illah, Ogwashi-Uku, Okpanam...

 A Memorable Visit to Ibusa: Pope Leo XIV's Connection to St. Augustine's Catholic Church - Emeka Esogbue In 2016, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, visited Nigeria as the Prior General of the Augustinians, specifically stopping at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Ibusa. Established in 1898 during the Ekumeku War, this historic church holds a special place in the community.  The church's founding story is fascinating to Anioma historians. After Ibusa chiefs opposed British missionaries, Obi Egbune, the Obi of Issele-Uku accepted the British offer in his community, leading to Ibusa's eventual surrender because Ibusa mercenaries had the intention to fight on the side of Issele-Uku. Rev Fr Carlo Zappa's appeal to establish a mission in the community, paved the way for St. Augustine's, the community's first and largest church which though has been knocked down and severally restructured to give it a look outside the original form. Given this history and im...