Royals
9 most prominent traditional rulers of Yoruba Origin
- OONI OF ILE-IFE
His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oodua, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II was born in 1974 and started his elementary education at Subuola Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Ibadan. He proceeded to the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan and later to St. Peters Secondary School, Ile-Ife, where he received his secondary school certificate (SSCE). He graduated as an accountant from The Polytechnic, Ibadan . Ooni Enitan is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Associate Accounting Technician, a certified member of the Institute of Directors and also a member of the Global Real Estate Institute.
He holds a number of honorary doctorate degrees: one in Public Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and another in Law from Igbinedion University. Oba Ogunwusi is the Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
- ALAAFIN OF OYO
His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Alayeluwa Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III was born 15 October 1938 by the Alaafin Adeniran Adeyemi II, who was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the NCNC. Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970 to become the Alaafin and Paramount Ruler of the Oyo Kingdom during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, shortly after the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
In 1975 the head of state General Murtala Muhammed ncluded Oba Adeyemi in his entourage to the hajj. He was chancellor of Uthman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto from 1980 to 1992. In 1990 President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Amir-ul-Hajj in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria. Currently, he is the Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
Alaafin Adeyemi III is married to Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, and usually attends most events with her or with one of the twelve junior wives that he’s also married to. He is a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before ascending the throne of his Fathers.
- OBA OF BENIN
His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II was born in 1953 and was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300. It is globally believed that Benin has a highly respected and unique process of succession to the throne of Oba of Benin. Oba of Benin attended Edo College in Benin from 1965 to 1967 and Immaculate Conception College from 1968 to 1970. He got his A-Level Certificate from South Thames College, London. He graduated with an Economics degree from the University of Wales, UK and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutger University Graduate School, New Jersey, USA. He worked at the United Nations between 1981 and 1982. He also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark and the Republic of Finland. He was also Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy.
- ALAKE OF EGBALAND
His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III was born into the Laarun Ruling House in1943 He is the paramount ruler of Egba Kingdom in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is a grandson of the sixth Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo, who ruled from 1898 to 1920, and is a nephew of Oba Gbadebo II. The monarch attended the Baptist Boys’ High School in Abeokuta and Ibadan Grammar School then went on to University of Ibadan in 1965, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969. He joined the army in 1969, and attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji from September 1978 to August 1979. He eventually became a Principal Staff Officer to Major-General Tunde Idiagbon, the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, from January 1984 to September 1985. He retired from the army as a Colonel. He ascended the throne as the Alake of Egbaland in 2005.
- OLUGBO OF UGBO
Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan was born 1950. He is influential with high taste for classic lifestyle. Akinruntan is the paramount ruler of Ugbo Kingdom a town in Ilaje Local Government Ondo State south-western Nigeria.
He is an oil magnate and founder of Obat Oil, one of Nigeria’s largest and leading privately owned oil companies.
In March 2014 Forbes estimated his net worth as US$300 million. Obateru is ranked by Forbes magazine as the second richest King in Africa and the richest in Nigeria. He has a custom built 2012 Rolls Royce similar to that of Queen Elizabeth II and on January 14, 2014, in an interview with Daily Post he said “I have a $1 million watch, I use the same type of car like the Queen of England”.
Obateru is the first black person to buy the 2014 model of Bentley automobile. On July 2013, in an interview with The Sun, Obateru said: “The first time I saw a car was 1961 in Sapele. At that time, Sir Festus Okotie-Eboh had a hotel in Sapele, Waterside Hotel. It was the first time I saw a hotel in my life. We used to describe hotels as bars. That was the first time I knew the difference between a hotel and a bar.
- EWI OF ADO-EKITI
His Royal Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III CON was born 1945 and succeeded Adelabu I as the Ewi of Ado Ekiti in 1990.
He serves as the chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and was formerly the chancellor at the University of Jos.
- OLUBADAN OF IBADAN
Olubadan of Ibadan
His Royal Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji was born 1928 and became the 41st Olubadan following his coronation on March 4, 2016. He grew up learning vocational jobs until he took fashion designing as a means of living after moving into Lagos. While working as a fashion designer, Saliu delved into musical record marketing until in 1960 when he founded his first of three record label imprints called Baba Laje Records which housed notable Fuji music acts including Dauda Epo Akara and Wasiu Ayinde Marshal. Prior to his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land.
- AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND
His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (born 10 May 1934) is the Awujale of the Ijebu Kingdom. He was installed as the king in 1960, making him one of the longest reigning monarchs in Nigeria. His father was Prince Rufai Adeto and mother, Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (née Onashile). As king, he represents the Anikilaya ruling family.
Young Prince Adetona, variously attended Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo; and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, Ijebu Ode between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he attended Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu Ode from 1951 to 1956. Between 1957 and 1958 he took up an appointment with the then Audit Department of the Western Region, Ibadan. The prince resigned his appointment in 1958 to pursue further studies in accountancy in tthe United Kingdom which was the colonial ruler of Nigeria at the time.
- OBA OF LAGOS
His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu was born 1943 and attended Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Surulere, Lagos (1961-1965) and studied Law at the University of Lagos (Akoka campus), receiving his Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B). After high school he served for 32 years in the Nigeria Police Force, entering the force in 1970. He served in various capacities, was promoted to assistant inspector-general of Police in 1999, and was active until his retirement in 2002.
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