Emeka Esogbue

 Ibusa's Daughter, Global Champion: How Bose Omolayo's Powerlifting Legacy Made Our People Proud  By Emeka Esogbue From Seme-border town hairdresser to Nigerian paralympic stardom, her story changed. From Ibusa to the world stage, Bose Omolayo, the Paralympic powerlifter, has put the Ibusa community on the global map once again. However, many from the community are unaware that she is one of their own. Omolayo's powerlifting success has announced the human capacity of Anioma to the world, showcasing the region's potential. Against all odds, she lifted Ibusa to the world stage at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, winning a silver medal in the women's 79kg powerlifting event. Her incredible lift of 145kg secured her country a place on the world medal table. Omolayo has a rich history of championships, having previously won two gold medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. She also won silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2022 women's heavyweight ev...

 Tears and Sorrow as Ibusa Novelist, Philip Ngozi Kwusike Goes Home - Emeka Esogbue What had started as an intense shock for the Ibusa community following the announcement of the death of Philip Ngozi Ifechukwude-Kwusike and kept the community in a sombre mood, became metamorphic of sorrow and tears as the community's prominent novelist and writer was laid to rest on Thursday morning.  The day before, was the heavily attended service of songs by the people of Ibusa which took place in his Umutaba, Nkpanyala home. This was followed by the ebiligwogwo rites, a funeral custom of the Ibusa people, which was observed in his honour after which the writer, the Ibusa best known since the Buchi Emecheta era, also from the community, was committed to the mother earth.  Philip Ngozi Ifechukwude Kwusike, author of four published books that include a collection of poetries and autobiography, named "Wild Ixora" was made popular by his last work, "Imagine Lagos and Other Stories...