Jeff Unaegbu

Jephthah Elochukwu Unaegbu (born on 1 October 1979) is a Nigerian writer, researcher, freelance journalist, actor, and documentary film maker.

Early life and education
Unaegbu was born on 1 October 1979, in Amankwo-Inyi, Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria as the first out of five children to John Ejike Unaegbu and Cecilia Enonanma Unaegbu. He attended the Government Secondary School in Minna, Niger State from 1990 to 1996. He then attended the Muhanatu Computer Institute, where he earned a Diploma in Computer Data Processing in 2000. He also studied in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, from 2002 to 2006, and earned a degree in Mass Communication. While studying in Enugu, Unaegbu was chief editor of the university's Roar Magazine, as well as won academic faculty and poetry prizes. He further got his MA in African Studies from the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria in 2018.

University service
Unaegbu was employed as Higher Technical Officer in the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2008 and became a Research Fellow of the institute in 2021.

Writing
Unaegbu became an executive officer of the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans in the Ministry of Commerce at Alausa, Ikeja. He wrote his first book, Ode on Lagos (This Lagos Na Wa) and Other Poetic Portraits which was published in January 2006, by Prize Publishers (a later edition in 2010 was published by Pitmak Books, Abuja). On April 2, 2007, the book was reviewed to contain a poem that was called "a longest poem by a Nigerian" by Newswatch magazine. Another magazine, The Roar said it was "the longest metrical poem in Africa".

While awaiting his final year results as an undergraduate, Unaegbu wrote his second book, Freedom in Our Bones: the history of the Students' Union Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1960-2004. The book was published in March 2007, the same month Unaegbu was posted to Bayelsa State for his NYSC programme. While serving at Otu-oke, Ogbia in Bayelsa State, he began his third book, Origins of the NYSC as well as a biography of the Professor of Physics, Alexander Obiefoka Enukora Animalu, a book he co-authored with Godfrey Akpojotor. Former Nigerian Minister, Bartholomew Nnaji said the book "lucidly explains life in Lagos in the late 1950s, especially the budding crime level." Since then, he has written several books and journal publications including The Secret Principles of Female Powers (2009), Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama African World Challenge Art and Science in the Reconstruction of the Consciousness of Africans in the 21st Century, A Dialogue on Western and African Worldviews (co-authored with Professors Alexander Animalu and Grace Achufusi), The Youth and National Development in Nigeria (2010; with Professor Emeka Joseph Otagburuagu and N.C. Ohia) and his debut short stories collection, This Mosquito in Your Net. Unaegbu's story, "Prey", was among those shortlisted for the inaugural African Writing Prize for Flash Fiction. He was a recipient of the travel fellowship by the African Studies Association of the United Kingdom (ASAUK) to a Workshop for African Scholars held in Osun State University, in September 2011. His book, Ode on Lagos' was shortlisted and eventually came third in the Association of Nigerian Authors/Cadbury Prize.

In October 2012, Unaegbu (with Prof. Alex Animalu and Prof. Sam Onuigbo) began to edit volumes of the University of Nigeria Book of Fame which contains the profiles of notable alumni and faculty of the University, including the profiles of Chinua Achebe, Onigu Otite and Peter Obi In 2012 also, Unaegbu (along with A. O. E. Animalu and Francisca Nneka Okeke) wrote the Biography of the Eminent Pioneer Geophysicist: Cyril Agodi Onwumechili. Some scholars have referenced the book.

In 2013, Jeff Unaegbu and Prof. Sam Onuigbo co-authored the book, Fifty Years of African Studies: The History of the Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1963-2013). The book is reliably referenced in the definitive work on African Studies in the world, entitled, "Transformations in Africana Studies: History, Theory and Epistemology".

Unaegbu's 529-paged Braving the Stars: The Biography of Pius Nwankwo Okeke, Famous Nigerian Space Scientist and Professor of Physics (co-authored with Dr. Sam Chukwu in 2014) was his fourth biography of living professors in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Its presentation in 2014 attracted the former Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Hon. Ike Ekweremadu and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Later, Book Authority cited its e-version as one of the five Best Nigerian Biography eBooks of All Time. In 2014 also, Jeff Unaegbu and Janna Nwafor-Orizu co-authored the book, 92 Days in Power: Dr. A.A. Nwafor-Orizu (GCON) as Acting President of Nigeria (October 16, 1965- January 15, 1966). the foreword was written by the former President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The book was reviewed by Professor Christian Opata in page 40 of the Daily Sun newspaper of Friday 19 December 2014. Furthermore, in 2014, Iroko from Sapling: The History of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1961-2014) was authored by Jeff Unaegbu and four others, including Prof. Emeritus Chijioke Nwosu.

In 2017, Pride of the Den, the History of the Faculty of the Physical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka (1973-2017) was authored by Jeff Unaegbu, Prof. Fidelis Ugwuowo and Prof. UC Okoro.

In 2018, Jeff Unaegbu, Professor Emeritus Alex Animalu, and Thaddeus Udeinya co-authored the Biography of Nigeria's Foremost Professor of Mechanical Engineering: Gordian Ezekwe.

In her article published by the New Yorker magazine on 10 September 2020, the Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, expressed her gratitude to Jeff Unaegbu, Alexander Animalu and Peter Uche for co-authoring her father's biography in book form, entitled, Biography of Nigeria's Foremost Professor of Statistics, Prof. James Nwoye Adichie    On 1 October 2020 Jeff Unaegbu's 152-page book, The Jephian Philosophy was published. The book is a sum of his meditations on the secret nature of God and the hidden meaning of life. One of the founders of cognitive science, Professor Noam Chomsky, finds the book relevant.

On 16 January 2021 Jeff Unaegbu's Sambisa Forest and Other Stories was published. It contains the shortlisted story, Prey. The book also has the story, Bye-Bye, which was long-listed for the April 2018 Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Non-Fiction, Antioch University, Los Angeles. Another story in the book, The Fulani Damsel was published in the Litro Magazine, a Literary and Creative Arts magazine in the United Kingdom in June 2018.

A panegyric for an elephant tusk was begun in September 2016 by Jeff Unaegbu on a social networking site. Poetic responses to the poem came from Amarachi Attamah, Chinemerem Anyi, Ejiuwaka Chukwu and Ikechukwu Ogbu. Soon, an epic poem was built from these poetic conversations. The first draft of the epic poem was performed as spoken word poetry by Jeff Unaegbu and Amarachi Attamah at the awards ceremony of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize in June 2017. The final draft and some additional poems were published as a book, entitled, Elephant Tusk: An Epic on 31 October 2021. On 25 May 2021 Jeff Unaegbu delivered the guest lecture at the 2021 Literary Arts Festival of the oldest students’ journal in West Africa, Muse Journal of the English and Literary Studies Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In his lecture, entitled, "Writing and Publishing: Trends in the New Decade", he said, "the tendency for your manuscript as a writer to be accepted or rejected has more to do with the biases of the agents or publishing houses you send it to, much more than whether it is good writing or not".

Two volumes of Amazing Grace: The Authorized Biography of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was authored by Jeff Unaegbu, Sam Chukwu and Chinedu Nsofor in 2022. Copies of the book were presented during Chief Iwuanyanwu's 80th birthday on 4 September 2022.

With Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, he authored the book, ''The Alaigbo Development Foundation: Ten Years of Struggle and Service to the Igbo Nation (2014-2024). ''

Unaegbu has published articles as book chapters and in learned journals. He has also been referenced in theses, books and journals.

His many essays which have been published in online magazines, include a protest (co-authored with Jaanna Nwafor-Orizu) against the Nigerian Centenary awards for not including the names of many early nationalists who fought for Nigerian independence for the awards; an article on Ikenga as seen as the mighty secret of the Igbo ethnic group; and an essay on the war veteran, Joe Achuzia.

As a freelance journalist, he interviewed notable Nigerian authors, including Chika Unigwe, and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo. and wrote about personalities such as Grace Adichie (Chimamanda Adichie's mother),.

Unaegbu organized the Cecilia Unaegbu Prize in Flash Fiction with the combined prizes of 192 US Dollars in July 2011. Entries were judged by Unoma Azuah. Unaegbu was the Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize Judge in 2012.

Public service
Jeff Unaegbu was appointed the Oja Cultural Development Initiative (OCDI) envoy/ ambassador on 1 October 2019. Between 5 and 11 December 2019, he was in Zimbabwe on residency to supervise the Igbo indigenous Architecture or compound and exchange cultural ideas with the Dzimbanhete Arts and Culture Interactions Trust (DACIT) as the representative for OCDI. The Igbo compound was being prepared for the Sounds of the Sacred Webs Festival (August 2019-July 2020). In Zimbabwe, Jeff Unaegbu also represented the Igbo ethnic group by participating in Cultural Conversations hosted in collaboration with National Gallery of Zimbabwe under their flagship event the ‘Harare Conversations’ a well-established artistic platform. The conversation which was themed Rethinking Epistemes: Uprooting Toxicity and Moving towards a Socially Engaged Practice was marked with other speakers from different ethnic groups from Africa, including a South African of the Zulu ethnic group ubaba Menzi Maseko co-founder and Director of The Institute of Afrikology. The other participants were Sinyoro Chikonzero Chazunguza the Creative Director of Dzimbanhete, Samaita Jonathan Goredema, the Cultural and Spiritual Director of Dzimbanhete representing the traditional healers and Dziva Phillip Kusasa, the founder and Director of the Ndau Arts Festival representing the Ndau tribe. In 2020, Jeff Unaegbu piloted the construction of a gigantic hand statue at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The idea behind the statue was to stamp on the consciousness of the University community and its public, the importance of the philosophy of the founding fathers of the University. In 2022, the Tropical Gate Foundation for Sustainable Development appointed Jeff Unaegbu its Director of Protocol and Strategic Contacts.

Activism
Jeff Unaegbu was one of the three founders of the Occupy Nigeria Facebook group (Nationwide Anti-Fuel Subsidy Removal: Strategies & Protests) that motivated nationwide youthful protests against the removal of subsidy on fuel in 2012 by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. The other founders were Gimba Kakanda and Richard Ali. This was the subject of research for a PhD thesis in history entitled, “Photography, Facebook and Virtualisation of Resistance in Nigeria” by George Emeka Agbo” at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, in November 2016.

Filmography

 * Saved by Sin, part 2 (2007)
 * Saved by Sin, part 3 (2007)
 * Zik of Africa- A Historical Reflection (2008/2010)
 * Journalism (Flash Documentary) (2010)

Short story collections

 * This Mosquito in Your Net, (Nsukka: Global Publishers). (2010) ISBN 978-31647-4-0

Poems

 * "There May Be A Historian Amongst the Ants" in Best "New" African Poets Anthology 2020 edited by Tendai Rinos Mwanaka.

Nonfiction

 * Freedom in Our Bones: THE HISTORY OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA (1960-2004), (Onitsha: Blue Publishers, 2007, 2008). (512 Pages) ISBN 978-35602-2-0.
 * The Origins of the NYSC, (Nsukka: Global Publishers, 2009). (90 Pages) ISBN 978-33254-4-2.
 * ALEXANDER O.E. ANIMALU: A Biography of the Distinguished Professor of Physics (Co-authored with Dr. Akpojotor, G.E.) (Abuja: Ucheakonam Foundation (Nig.) Ltd., 2008). (133 Pages) ISBN 978-049-891-5.
 * Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama African World Challenge: Arts and Science in the Reconstruction of the Consciousness of Africans in the 21st Century, A Dialogue of Western and African Worldviews, (Co-authored with Professors Animalu, A.O.E.; Umezinwa, W.A. and Achufusi, G.) (Enugu: Snaap Publishers, 2009). (102 Pages) ISBN 978-049-951-2.
 * The Youth and National Development in Nigeria (Co-edited with Otagburuagu, E.J. and Ohia, N.C. (Nsukka: Global Publishers/ Benak Ventures) (2010) ISBN 978-8060-35-8.
 * Biography of Nigeria's Foremost Professor of Statistics, Prof. James Nwoye Adichie. (Co-authored with Professors Animalu, A.O.E.; Peter Uche) (Abuja: Ucheakonam Foundation (Nig.) Ltd) (2013) ISBN 979-8592635113.

Academic publications

 * Unaegbu, J. et al. “Does the imposition of a Candidate at Party Primaries Increase the Probability of Winning an Election?”
 * Unaegbu, J. "Igbo Post-Contact Proverbs of the Inyi Community"
 * Alexander O. E. Animalu, & Jeff Unaegbu, “Gaia hypothesis from an African perspective”
 * Unaegbu, J. E. (2023). “Igbophobia in Lagos and Nigeria 2023 Elections: Myth or Reality?”
 * Unaegbu J. et al, "Nnamdi Azikiwe Center: Historicizing the Immortalization of Zik’s Lodge in Nigeria—the Journey, the Project, and Tourism Potentials"
 * Unaegbu, Jeff & Ezeigbo, Joy, “Exploring The Existence Of The Supreme Deity Concept In Igbo Premissionary Contact Religious Thoughts”
 * Emeka Nwabueze and Jeff Unaegbu “Cladding A Galaxy Of Reflections: A Critical Appraisal Of B.O.N. Eluwa’s Ado-Na-Idu: History Of Igbo Origin”
 * Orajaka, Susan Nwakaego & Unaegbu, Jeff, “Igbo Minstrels As Pathfinders In Contemporary Society: Social Changes And Challenges.”
 * Jephthah Unaegbu, “A Warrior on Horseback (Three Tributes to Prof. BIC Ijomah)”
 * Unaegbu, Jeff and Ani, Jude (2017). “A Conceptualized Critique of Achebe’s ‘ An Image of Africa: Racism in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness’ in Nwabueze, Emeka (ed.). Chinua Achebe and the Convolutions of Immortality: Re-assessing the Writer in Relation to New Realities. Enugu: CNC Publications. pp. 309–320.
 * J. E. Unaegbu, “Physics In The Traditional Practices Of The Igbo: Paradigms For Advancement Of Science And Technology In Today’s Africa :African Worldview And Politics”
 * Animalu, A.O.E., Unaegbu, J.E. and Ani, J. (2019). "Complementary dualism of two cultures : Oduche's box and the snake in Arrow of God" in New Frontiers in Contemporary African Studies (Emeka Nwabueze ed.)
 * Unaegbu, J. & Animalu, A.O.E. (2010). “The resolution of two worldviews : values for a new African leadership “ in  Perspectives on leadership in Africa (edited by Egodi Uchendu, Pat Uche Okpoko, Edlyne Anugwom).

Personal life
Unaegbu is married to Ogechukwu Sonia Unaegbu.