Emmanuel was born in St Mary’s Hospital Sidcup, in the borough of Bexley, London UK to Nigerian parents.

His given name Emmanuel meaning ‘God is with us’ was chosen after his mother’s father in honour of his memory with people often referring to him as ‘Baba’ meaning father in both his parents’ native Yoruba and Hausa languages, but for most who knew him affectionately he was ‘Babs’. His middle names ‘Mikail’ was chosen after Angel Michael and Ayodele from his Yoruba heritage meaning ‘joy has come home.’ What beautiful names he would come to surely live up to in a lifetime where people fail.