Emeka Esogbue

 One Work on Preservation of Ibusa History and Heritage Completed; Another Work Begins I have now completed work on my book, *Ibusa Iwu Festival: Dancing Through Time,* and I eagerly await its unveiling. The journey of researching and documenting this important aspect of our cultural heritage has been both rewarding and enlightening. The book explores the history of the Iwu Festival, a festival believed to have been introduced into Ibusa from Ogwashi-Uku and one that is also celebrated in Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Uno, and Illah. The Iwu Festival appears to be a shared cultural heritage among the communities of Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Uno, and Illah, just as the Ikenga Festival is widely celebrated across Amai, Akoku-Uno, Umuebu, Ebedei, Umutu, and other neighbouring Ukwuani communities. It is my hope that this work will contribute to preserving and promoting this rich cultural tradition for present and future generations. I sincerely appreciate the support and encouragement I ...

 Patovilki Chief, Rosemary Ikolodo, Named National Matron of Pioneer Club of Ibusa By Emeka Esogbue The Managing Director of Patovilki Industrial Planners Limited, Mrs. Rosemary Moji Ikolodo, was on Sunday conferred with the title of National Matron of the Pioneer Club of Ibusa. The colourful ceremony, held at her Uwolo Ibusa House residence in Lagos, attracted notable dignitaries from within and outside the Ibusa community. The event commenced with the rendition of the Pioneer Club anthem by members, after which a kola nut was presented to the Guest of Honour, Prof. Hope Oghenerukevbe Eghagha, a distinguished playwright and poet, for the traditional breaking. Prof. Eghagha, an Urhobo public servant, symbolically wedged the kola nut with the sum of ₦50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) and passed it to Onowu Ojiso Modebe, the eldest man present, who performed the traditional breaking rites. In his opening remarks, Prof. Eghagha welcomed guests and expressed his honour at being part of the...

 The Obuzo's Prophecy and the Shortness of Ibusa Organizations - Emeka Esogbue In 2008, Miss Florence Bob-Okonkwo of the Nkpanyala sector of Ibusa approached me and expressed her desire to start an Ibusa association, which we eventually dubbed the Ibusa Like-minds Association.  After careful consideration, I concluded that the proposed organization's goal was to contribute to our community's social development through seminars and lectures, and because it was an Ibusa project, I bought the idea and agreed to participate in the project. We immediately launched the Association's programming, including lectures and town hall meetings, some of which were well attended by our Ibusa people. The inaugural lecture program was held at the Federal Government Girls College in Ibusa, where speakers spoke thematically about the usage of hard drugs by Ibusa youngsters, which they claimed was growing more prevalent.  It was at this session that I first met Mr. Peter Egbuchue. While we...