From the quiet community of Umuokparaume, Awor-Ezimuzor in Ezinifite, Anambra State, comes Fr. Basil Ekenobi CSSp—a Spiritan priest whose life defies the cliché that clergy are distant from practical life. Through invention, literature, farming, and deep spirituality, Basil shows that serving God can be the most intelligent and meaningful gift one offers humanity.
Born on November 7, 1976, and raised in disciplined simplicity, Basil developed early a hunger for innovation. Long before inverters became common in Nigeria, he built EMERLIPS—Emergency Limited Power Supply—a self-designed backup system that predated local inverter installations. Today, he continues to refine and install inverter systems for homes and chapels, ensuring power access in places often left in the dark.
His other innovations include the Electronic Automatic Church and School Bells and the 3H-REAS (Hospitals, Hotels, and Hostels Emergency Alarm System). In 2002, he had already designed a line of battery chargers. As a student, he launched VOSINC Radio 92.0 FM—earning the name Basilfm.
Yet this technical brilliance is only part of his gift. Basil is also a trilingual poet, having written over 300 poems in English, 30+ in French, and 20+ in Igbo, exploring themes of mortality, faith, and deception. His literary portfolio includes over ten Igbo novels, with Ajọ Mkpụrụ (The Evil Seed) and Eze Anochie (The Foretold King) already published, and a chilling upcoming work, The Abandoned Well.
His love for God runs deep. He undertook the immense task of recording the entire Catholic Bible in Igbo into audio format—a missionary effort born from faith and cultural pride. His spiritual songs and Marian devotion also echo in his ministry and creativity.
Fr. Basil Ekenobi is a rare blend of priest, poet, and pioneer—a quiet genius whose work brings light, literally and spiritually, to the heart of his people.
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