Emma Ugolee

Emmanuel Chinenye Ugolee was born in Jos, Plateau State, in the middle belt of Nigeria to Kingsley and Esther Ugolee. He was born on the 4th of October 1975.[1] Emmanuel is the first of six children. He spent his entire formative years in the city of Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria. He attended the University of Jos Primary School in Plateau State, Nigeria from 1981 -1986. He had his secondary school education at St Murumbas College Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, from 1987 -1992. He got admitted into the University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, to study Banking and Finance at an Ordinary National Diploma level in 1992 and graduated in 1995[3]

In late 1995, he moved to Enugu State in Eastern Nigeria, where he spent 4 years obtaining a Bachelor of Economics from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology. While at the Enugu State University, Emmanuel and a few friends were popular for organising social school events. He graduated from Enugu State University of Science and technology, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria in 1999.

In 1999 while Emmanuel was in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, He had gone on a television talk show called ‘Just Gisting’ on a television network known as Minaj Broadcast International to promote an upcoming school event called the ESUT Awards.[11] The owner of the television station, Mike Ajegbo, was impressed by Emmanuel. He was offered a job upon graduation. Emmanuel had his first shot at broadcasting by becoming the host of the same show ‘Just Gisting’ on which he was a guest a few months earlier.[12] Posted to Ibadan, in Oyo State Nigeria, after his graduation, for the National Youth Service Corps in 2000, Emmanuel continued with his weekend TV presentations with the headquarters of Minaj Broadcast International in Lagos. In 2001 as a full staff of the station, he was both producing and anchoring three shows on the television network. The most popular of the three shows was called ‘The MBI Top 10 Countdown’ which was a brain child of Emmanuel and Nigeria's first ever all Nigerian music video countdown.[4] A host of music makers and video directors were introduced to the nation on the platform of the show. Nigerian celebrity names like Sound Sultan, Ruggedman, Mode 9 and D'banj were pioneer beneficiaries from the show's popularity. At this point in his career, Emmanuel attended the prestigious Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Training school for broadcasters in 2002 with tutors like Veronica Osawere.[1]

By 2004 Emmanuel joined Nigeria's Telecommunications company Globacom as an executive in the Marketing Communications Department.[13] While executing his regular office duties, he produced and presented a TV show for the company called the Glo Show[13] He later mentored Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, who became the show's anchor in 2006. Emmanuel would go on to kick off a career as an independent television presenter and producer[1] The first project to this endeavour was born in 2015 as a TV talk show called ‘The Gist’.[14][15] The Gist is the first Nigerian talk show to exclusively be concerned about the problem and solutions of the Nigerian entertainment industry as a whole. It interviewed stake holders in the entertainment business, ranging musicians, actors, DJ's, record label executives to Models, Directors, event organizers and on-air personalities.[16] The Gist aired on cable TV platform HipTV from 2015 to early 2017 when it moved to the air on national TV Network of the Africa Independent Television where it is running till date.[14] In 2018 Emmanuel and his partner Ossy Achievas registered and launched the NSMA (Nigerian Social Media Awards) project which is designed to recognise and award outstanding Nigerians for an excellent use of social media.[17][18]

In 2019, Emmanuel authored his first book: A 100 Random Light Bulbs, a collection of musings, with the aim to inspire its readers to a deeper understanding of every day issues in life.[4][11][1][2]

Currently, a permanent resident in the United States of America, Emmanuel is working on projecting Africa, and his homeland Nigeria, with a TV and Radio show called “Something to write home about”[19] Something to write home about showcases outstanding Nigerian professionals residing in the US, Awards and Recognitions. Emmanuel Ugolee has received some recognitions, nominations and awards. Some include; The Future Awards Africa [TFAA] nomination for young professional of the year 2006[20] and Hip Hop world Magazine candidate for media personality of the year in 2002[21] The 2014 Linda ikeji BlogSpot list of Top 20 pioneers of the new era Nigerian music industry and the Vanguard newspaper reported, social media adjudged most followed youth talk show on Nigerian TV with The Gist with Emma Ugolee in 2016[19]

• A 100 Random Light Bulbs. Design Africa Concept Limited (17 Nov. 2019). ISBN 978-9-789-75956-9

• List of Nigerian media personalities
• List of Igbo people