Janus Asungha Amaseimogha (1947-2017)

Janus Asungha Amaseimogha hails from Opume community in Ogbia kingdom, Bayelsa state. He was a British trained Petrochemical Engineer that kept giant footprints on the sands of time in the academic circle. He was a foremost Ph.D holder in the field of Chemical Engineering. He delved into politics and succeeded as once elected council boss in the early 90s.

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Engineer, Lecturer, Politician

Hon Dr. Engr. Janus Asungha Amaseimogha was a quintessential and distinguished gentleman the Niger delta has ever had. He was a former Executive Chairman of Brass Local Government Council and also an apt Petrochemical Lecturer par excellence.

Synopsis

Born on 25 November, 1947 in Opume community in Ogbia Local Government Council Area of present day Bayelsa state. He attended the famous Bishop Dimieri Grammar School (BDGS) where he was the Senior Prefect of 1967 set. After a successful outing with his A’ Level exams in 1970, he went abroad for further studies. In 1984 thereabout, he qualified as a Ph.D holder in Chemical Engineering. With this feat of 1984, he became the first to have achieved such in Bayelsa state. From 1985 to 1991, he returned from the United Kingdom to the Niger Delta and lectured at several Universities. He kept veritable track records of services in the academics. Subsequently, he went into politics and he conquered too, as he was an elected council Boss of Brass Local Government.

His stint in politics was abruptly terminated by the Military led federal government. He went back to his former job as a lecturer as the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Port Harcourt. Though heavily battered by the issues of life, Dr. Janus Asungha Amaseimogha pulled-through and later died peacefully on the 1st of February, 2011. He was 64 years old.

Parents/Education

Born to the family of late Chief Amaseimogha Obadiah Azer and Madam Oseimiegha Dorcas (nee Akpana) both from Opume community of Ogbia kingdom in Bayelsa state.

He was raised up in Opume community by his parents. Though his parents weren’t persons of affluent, and even so he had a good upbringing.

Firstly, He had his primary education at St. Peter’s Primary School Opume and that was between 1954 and 1959.

Along the line, he lived with his elder brother who was quite mobile due to the nature of his job. Between 1961 and 1962, with the support of his elder brother, Janus Asungha Amaseimogha completed his primary education at St. Paul’s Primary School Kolo and got his First School Leaving Certificate.

In 1963, he moved to Yenagoa for his post-primary education. He was a student of the famous famous Bishop Dimieri Grammar School (BDGS) Ovom. Unassuming Janus was an intelligent student no doubt. Not surprisingly, the lanky and handsome Janus was made the School’s Senior Prefect in the 1967 set.

Nigeria/Biafra

However, in same 1967 at the verge of writing his Final Exams, the Nigeria/Biafra war broke out and this sad incident mostly in Eastern-Nigeria ravaged the tranquility of the region and also sacked public order.

Consequently, the unfortunate event of the war hampered young Janus educational ambition. He escaped to Lagos, Western-Nigeria for refuge and possibly get enlisted into the Nigeria Army. His uncle late Mr. Luis Eki Dongha Asi whom he stayed with dissuaded him from getting enlisted in the Army forces but rather seek education. He heeded his uncle’s advice and commenced schooling again in Lagos.

In 1968, he attended the College of Arts and Science, Onikan, Lagos state, Nigeria. He sat for the London G.C.E and successfully got his O’Level and A’Level between the mid-1968 and 1970. Therefore, he was exposed to University education in 1972.

Education In Europe

He was at the University of Lyon, France where he got a certificate in French language and later studied Chemical Engineering. Subsequently, he moved to the United Kingdom and gained admission into the Polytechnic of the South Bank (PSB) London in 1975.

Thereafter, in 1977 he bagged H.N.D in Chemical Engineer and also he had Distinction in Mathematics and Statistics.

Still not fulfilled, he enrolled for a certificate course in the Cranfield Institute of Technology, Bedford, UK. In 1979, he proceeded to the University of Porthmouth, South Sea, UK for further studies and obtained a Masters of Science Degree (M.Sc) in Fuel/Petroleum Technology in 1980 at the University of Porthmouth.

Doctor of Philosophy Program

Pushing boundaries were his ultimate goal, he started his Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering with special interest in Gas Flare Design and Environmental Pollution Control organized by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) London which was from 1980 to 1984. By dint of hardwork and due diligence, he successfully got his Ph.D in Chemical Engineering in 1984.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ~ 1Tim 6:12

Suffice to say herein, Janus Asungha Amaseimogha was the foremost Academic Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineer from Bayelsa state. With such elegant feat, he left the United Kingdom for Nigeria. Without hesitation, he did his the compulsory national assignment (The National Youth Service Corp NYSC) at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Refinery Warri between 1985 and 1986.

Career life

Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha somewhat had an eventful career life. After the his national assignment, he assumed responsibility as a lecturer in the tertiary institutions of Nigeria. In 1986, he was employed by the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).

Later on, he transferred his services to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University) which was in 1989 precisely. Some notable friends of his in the academic circle were Dr. D.Y Puyate and Chief Major Zedikaya Isu. He lectured at that university intermittently till his demise.

Designing A Reactor And Chemical Converter

Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha wasn’t a mere chalk and duster scientist in his prime. He was an avid and practical Petrol Chemist. In the late 80’s, he commenced the designing and fabrication of a Reactor and Chemical Converter.

If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ~ Roman 10:9

His envisaged invention was to collect waste PVCs (Poly Pipe Materials) from dumping sites and convert them into Hydrochloride (HCL) acid and with other 12 molar solution as by-products via a combustion reactor. Then his conceived project work was unprecedented in the Niger delta.

Nevertheless, he started the project without any government support. It was out of his meager earnings that he zealously established the project. Even so, he attained a considerable milestone. Along the line, he had some challenges that terminated the project eventually; he was unable to get a colorless HCL acid by-product.

The by-products from the reactor had coloration issues and overly this is against the chemical industry standards. His research needed further investigations and funding to meet the expected results on the by-products.

He couldn’t push boundaries on the project anymore as his funds depleted and this became a source of frustration for Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha. Sadly, he couldn’t actualized the Reactor and Chemical Converter. He was greatly disappointed by the government that doesn’t encourage research and ingenuity in the academic community.

Conversely, as his design and fabrication work failed to meet standards, he resolved and handed over a prototype of the chemical converter to Metroplastica Industries a defunct plastics/polymer production company located in Trans Amadi Industrial Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers state for further enhancement and usage.

Political life

Sometime in 1988, he was elected Member of the Constituent Assembly, Abuja represented the Brass Senatorial District.

In 1991, the political space was opened by the former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida. Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha tested his popularity in the murky waters of Nigeria politics.

He vied for the office of a the Chairman Brass Local Government Council under the party platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC).

The party’s primary was keenly contested and he won to represent the party in the main election. But surprisingly, some of his kinsmen (a few in Ogbia Brotherhood) vehemently opposed his victory at the polls.

They instituted legal actions against his victory in the primary. Janus was so frustrated and disappointed by his kinsmen. Gracefully, he won the case and represented the party to victory in the general elections.

If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ~ 1 John 1:9

In 1993, he won the election and eventually became the Executive Chairman Brass Local Government. He only saddled the office for only Six months as against the constitutional 3 year tenure for elected Local Government Executives. The Federal Military government decided to create a new local government (Ogbia) from the parent Brass local government. This act of government short-lived Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha political career. Therefore, himself and others were ousted from office frustrated and discomfited.

Lecturing Again

However, after all his grievous experienced in politics, he went back to his lecturing profession at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He was quite an unhappy man by demeanor. The issue life surmounted Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha. He was grossly entrapped with alcoholism and he became a shadow of himself.

His situation got worsen as the day goes by. Concerned persons who knew him draw-up motley conclusions like witchcraft, voodoo manipulations and others. Nonetheless, in black Africa such things do exist and even so, one can’t tell bad things do happen to good people.

About Spouse

Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha was a wonderful family man and he was admired by many before his predicament ensued. He was married to Mrs Immaculata Love Amaseimogha in the early 70s.

She obtained her diploma in Urology/ Nephrology from 1977 to 1978, and also she got her certificate in Tropical disease in 1976, obtained her certificate as a State Registered Nurse, England SRN and State Certificated Midwife (SCM) England from 1975 to 1976 respectively.

Mrs Immaculata Love Amaseimogha later obtained her post graduate diploma from the University of Calabar, Cross State, Nigeria.

She was once the Rivers state Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwifes, Rivers state chapter. The Treasurer, Nigeria Labour Congress in Rivers state. In 1994, she was appointed the Chairman of Ogbia Local Government Council.

Also in 2003, she served as Commissioner III, Bayelsa state Civil Service Commission. She was the founder of the Opume Women Progressive Association, Ogbia Na Don Cultural Group, the Ogbia Women Forum and Vice President National Council of Women Societies Bayelsa state.

She was the Public Relations Officer of the National Council Women Society, Rivers state; National President Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria; National Secretary Female Nurse Association Nigeria; Secretary Women Entrepreneur Bayelsa state.

They had 5 children together.

His Death

It was reported Dr Janus Asungha Amaseimogha died in his sleep on 1st of February 2011. He must have suffered an acute stroke or possibly a heart attack in his sleep. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

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Abalijay
"Timeless Persons" is a personal blog project created by me with the aim of sharing biographies of remarkable individuals from the Niger Delta region and beyond. The blog serves as a platform to captivate and stimulate your thoughts, encouraging reflection on the past, fostering a positive mindset in the present, and inspiring hope for a better future. Through the stories of great minds featured on the blog, readers are invited to delve into the lives and achievements of extraordinary individuals, drawing inspiration and insights that can be applied to their own lives. "Timeless Persons" strives to create an engaging and thought-provoking space for readers to appreciate the legacies and contributions of notable individuals, ultimately encouraging personal growth and a brighter outlook on life.