Within the Nigerian community in Ohio, Emmanuel Chidi Ezirim, a.k.a. "The E-Doggy" is considered the Igbo Sheppard. At age 13 in 1980, E-Doggy moved to the United States to live with his oldest sibling, Egondu Onyejekwe, Ph.D. Emmanuel is the 6th of 7 children born to Josiah Ufere & Cecilia Nwanu Ezirim of Umoke, Owerre-Nkworji in Imo State Nigeria. He started his secondary education at Sacred Heart Secondary School, Aba (Saharco), and transferred to Centennial High School in Columbus, Ohio. Although he left the world he knew as a child in Aba, the Saharco never left him. He founded The Odenigbo Cultural Group (a performing arts group) which at its peak featured at numerous special events across the US, including late Chinua Achebe's 70th Birthday Celebration (Bard College NY), the special commencement at Wilberforce University honoring former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ohio State Fair, and many other African Cultural events. This book, Jet Black and the Ebony Knights is yet another contribution to his Igbo culture in literal form. E-Doggy is a two-time graduate of The Ohio State University (Nutrition and Pharmacy) and a 4-year Varsity award winner in Soccer. He and his wife Chiebonam have an Endowed Scholarship at the OSU College of Pharmacy. He also initiated the Just Us Endowment at The OSU College of Pharmacy with his fellow black alumni from the college. He is a founding member of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA). He is the NAPPSA Business-to-Business Chair and President Elect. Emmanuel Chidi Chukwumaeze Ezirim, (E-Doggy Nwachinemere) resides in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Chichi and their children Nnamdi, Caesar "CC", Arinze "Bro-Ko-To" and Angel "Dada".
