Barely 48 hours after his appointment was announced, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Monday presented the certificate and staff of office to Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, marking his official ascension as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, a position of great cultural and historical significance in the Oyo Kingdom and Yoruba land.
Persecondnews earlier reported that the governor, in a statement released by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, on Friday, approved the new Alaafin’s appointment.
The Oyo kingmakers had rejected Owoade, saying he was not their choice.
A brief but symbolic ceremony was held on Monday at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, attracting dignitaries, traditional rulers, government officials, and enthusiastic Oyo indigenes.
While presenting the insignia of office, Makinde praised Oba Owoade, describing him as a leader perfectly suited to preserve the rich cultural and historical legacy of the Oyo Kingdom.
The governor acknowledged the Alaafin of Oyo’s profound significance, not merely as a traditional ruler, but as a guardian of the kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, and expressed confidence in Oba Owoade’s ability to lead with wisdom, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to unity.
In his remarks, the first class monarch expressed his gratitude to the people of Oyo and pledged to prioritize the development of the kingdom and the welfare of his subjects.
Owoade succeeds the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, whose reign lasted for over five decades.
Born into the esteemed Owoade-Agunloye royal family in Oyo town 49 years ago, Owoade is a descendant of the revered Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade of Agure Compound, Oyo town, through his father, Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade.
Owoade obtained his secondary school certificate from Baptist High School in Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria, graduating in 1992.
His father, Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, played a significant role in the development of the Oke-Ogun community, working with the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme to enhance agricultural productivity in the region.
Pursuing his passion for engineering, Prince Abimbola Owoade embarked on his academic journey, earning his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State (1994-1997), and the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State (1999-2001), respectively.
Owoade furthered his education in the United Kingdom, attending the University of Sunderland in 2008, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and later Northumbria University in 2012, where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
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