About the Author
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Joseph I Okogun is the son of the biographee. He received lectures, written and audio records from his father and others. The author is in his early eighties and grew up personally experiencing aspects of his father’s community.
He is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Consultant at Paxherbal Clinics and Research Laboratories, Benedictine Monastery, Ewu, Nigeria; a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Royal Society of Chemistry and others. He has been Commonwealth Academic Research Fellow at Imperial College, London; Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at Darmstadt and Hannover, Germany and collaborated on herbal medicine research with NIAID-NIH, USA. He was Knighted by Saint John Paul II in 1985. He is currently more in the USA with his wife Lady Justina Okogun nee Odigie and children. The Life of an Enigma reveals interesting and unusual experiences for all interested in anthropology and African studies. Joseph I Okogun had his primary school education at Native Authority School (Okaigben Primary School), Ewohimi (1946 - 1953), whose Headmasters at various times were I. C. John from Onitsha, indefatigable R. M. Ojezua from Irrua, M. M. Onwudinjo from Asaba and Pa Esekhaigbe from Ekpoma; secondary education at Immaculate Conception College, Benin City (1954) with Reverend Father Stephens as Principal and Saint Patrick's College, Asaba (1955 - 1958) with Reverend Fathers O'Rourke, A. MacDonagh and Marianist Reverend Father Bruder as Principals at various times and University education at the University College, Ibadan now University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He holds the B.Sc. Chemistry ( First Class, London), Ph.D. Chemistry (Ibadan) and the Diploma Imperial College, London, UK. His Ph.D. work was supervised by Professors Donald E. U. Ekong and Carl W. L. Bevan. He did his postdoc at Imperial College under Nobel laureate Sir Derek H. R. Barton, was visiting Professor at Darmstadt and Hanover, Germany where he worked with Gerhard Habermehl, Helmut Duddeck and their co-workers. He has collaborated in his research with Koji Nakanishi, George Ellestad and their co-workers at Columbia University, New York, ; Barry Cliff III and co-workers of NIAID/NIH, USA; David Connolly of Glasgow; Emmanuel A. Ojo-Amaize, Emeka Nchekwube, Howard Cottam and Olusola Oyemade all of Immune Modulations, USA; Emmanuel Ogbadoyi and co-workers of Federal University, Minna, Nigeria; Charles Wambebe and co-workers at the National Institute o f Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, Nigeria; Traditional Medicine Practitioners; colleagues at the University of Ibadan and others. He a Distinguished Alumnus of Saint Patrick's College, Asaba and the University of Ibadan Chemistry Department, Ibadan, Nigeria. About the Book
The Life of an Enigma is an engaging read about an interesting and memorable life lived under uniquely challenging surroundings and times. The book is also an anthropological, sociological, and religious inquiry into the cultures and traditions of John Okogun Omovuon’s Edo and Delta States of Nigeria covering his lifetime, 1905 -1993 with special reference to the Esan(Edo) people. Educators, students, and researchers should find the book useful in the area of British colonialism and African culture, Nigeria history, Christianity in Africa, African spiritualism and African indigenous studies. A number of stranger than fiction events and encounters that uphold faith, courage, and integrity woven into free enterprise are described using materials from Okogun’s verbal and written accounts, information obtained by the author from Okogun’s contemporaries, and the author’s experience of life in the communities. The dance culture of the people including the famous Esan acrobatic dance (seen on YouTube) Igbabonalimin is described in detail for the first time in the narrative. The author’s professional international experience as a natural products chemist is brought to bear on many aspects of the story including the herbalism practised by his father Okogun. Okogun lived a heroic life and his story needs to be told and read.
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CONTACT
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