WRITTEN BY RT. HON. ANAYO NNEBE
Engineer Dr. Emmanuel Onu Egbogah, OON, was not just an academic colossus but an oracle, a giant and a superhero in petroleum engineering and a philanthropist per excellence.

Born on September 14, 1942, the young Emma attended Central School, Amawbia from where he proceeded to the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha in 1957. In 1961, Onu sat for his Cambridge School Certificate and passed with the best grade (Division 1). In 1963, he proceeded to the Friendship University, Moscow, USSR, where he bagged his M.Sc in Applied Petroleum Geology.
In 1971, he bagged Pre-PhD from the McGill University Montreal, Canada and another Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; then PhD in Petroleum Reservoir Engineering from the Imperial College of Science & Technology, London. 
Dr. Egbogah, who started his oil and gas industry career in Canada with Philips Petroleum in 1973, had over forty years of diversified geological and petroleum engineering experience in consulting, teaching, research and development in Canada, United States of America, Europe and Africa.
Dr. Emmanuel Onu Egbogah was a member of several professional societies. He had chaired and participated in so many technical committees, locally and internationally. He also authored and co-authored over 90 technical publications and delivered several papers in workshops and seminars. A former member of the 15- person African Oil Policy Initiative Group, the policy strategy think-tank that produced the white paper that forms the new American oil policy, predicated on West African Oil. 
Back home, Dr. Egbogah also served as Long Term Policy & Strategic Advisor, Oil & Gas Sector, for the Presidency’s Bureau of Public Enterprises, with a responsibility for the Restructuring of the Nigeria Oil & Gas Sector. He was a former Presidential Adviser on Petroleum Matters to late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua as well as Member, National Economic Management Team and Chairman of the Governing Board, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
Engineer Dr Egbogah was also a Consulting Petroleum Engineer for Oil and Gas Division, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs; a Consultant to Porta-Test Manufacturing Ltd, Canada; President, EMEG Engineering Ltd., Canada; Group Executive Chairman, Evergreen Gas Company Inc, USA and Evergreen Gas Company Nigeria Ltd as well as Executive Chairman, Emerald Energy Resources Ltd and many other local and international firms.
Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Onu Egbogah, OON, also taught in Nigeria and overseas. He Lectured in Petroleum Technology at University of Ibadan; was a Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Mineral Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada and Pioneer Nigerian Lecturer in Petroleum Engineering, University of Ibadan and visiting Professor, UniPort.
Dr Egbogah’s spirit of philanthropy was unequalled. He instituted a ten million naira University Scholarships to Awka Indigenes. Dozens of Awka citizens have benefitted from the scheme. In the University of Port Harcourt, he equally endowed one million dollars for the construction of the Emerald Energy Centre for Petroleum Economics, Policy and Strategic Studies as well as donated 20 Computer sets with accessories.
Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Onu Egbogah, OON, endowed several chairs running into millions of dollars in many universities in Nigeria and overseas. He donated Computers at Community Secondary School, Umuokpu, constructed a Building Complex and provided Power Generator in the school. At Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Engr. Egbogah also provided Computer sets and endowed four million naira to Awka Development Union, Lagos Branch for the award of 10 scholarships annually to indigenes of Awka to study Science and Engineering at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. A registered professional engineer of the province of Alberta, Canada, Dr Emmanuel Onu Egbogah was listed in the world’s Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. A philanthropist of the highest order, he had seen to the education and training of so many people in Umuokpu in particular and Awka town in general. Several people became gainfully employed in the village because of his personal resolve to improve the standard of living of his people. Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Onu Egbogah, OON was a jolly fellow, a man of the people and one that cherished philanthropy.
He died at the age of 76. Left to mourn him are his wife, children, grand children and other numerous relations.
Tomorrow, Thursday, August 16, 2018, 5pm, there will be service of songs at his residence, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah Avenue, Umuokpu Awka. On Friday this week, 7am, his body will depart Apex Medical Centre, Awka for his residence; 8am, lying in sate; 10am, commendation service at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Umuokpu, followed by interment. Saturday, August 18, 2018, funeral ceremonies continue.
Adieu, my mentor; adieu our hero; fare thee well, the Iroko of our time.

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