By Adeyemi Sulaimon Olusesi
The Olofin Apesin Olode, Olota of the Paramount and Ancient Otta, Awori Kingdom, His Majesty, Oba Professor Adeyemi Abdukabir Obalanlege Ph.D MCIPR MPRII FHEA (Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode) will be marking 5 years Coronation Anniversary on the exalted and revered stool of Olota on 10th May 2023.
The sons and daughters of Otta (Home and Diaspora) are in joyous mood and looking forward to celebrating a Royal Icon whose emergence as the Monarch of the foremost Awori Kingdom has brought unequalled development, peace tranquility and transformative leadership in managing the affairs of true the sophisticated people of Aworiland.
The Anniversary is scheduled to be a 2-day event, starting on 9th May 2023 with Gbedu dance, conferment of chieftaincy titles, kick-off of the Olota Secondary School Football Cup Competition.
The Anniversary day, 10th May 2023 shall feature the historic ground breaking of a 21st Century world class “Otta E-Library” to be named in honour of Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege. Kabiyesi who is equally a Professor has proven to be a lover of education by conceiving the idea of putting in place an E-Library to support the advancement in learning, enhance reading culture among our people, and in furtherance to promote educational research which are beneficial to the Aworis, people of Ogun state, and the country at large.
The E-Library, first of its kind in any traditional setting in Yorubaland, when completed will complement the efforts of Ogun State Government in entrenching the position of the state as Massachusetts of Nigeria being the State with the singular honour with many higher institutions more than most states in the Federation.
Also, as part of the activities marking the 5th Coronation Anniversary is the official commissioning of “Oba Adeyemi Royal Residence” situated at Oba Adeyemi Imperial Estate, Otta Ikola Road, Otta.
The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR is expected to lead other distinguished dignitaries to commission this edifice which has been judged to be an architectural masterpiece befitting a quintessential monarch in the caliber of Olota of Ota!
The Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR is the Special Guest of Honour while the Deputy Governor, H.E Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele in her capacity as the Chief Hostess will be attending the historic event.
The Grand Royal Guest of Honour, Oonirisa, Olofin Adimula, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) alongside Royal Fathers of the Day, HRM Oba Babatunde Ajayi, FCA (Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland), HRM Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo (Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland) and HRM Oba Abdulkabir Adelaja Agbabiaka (Osolo of Isolo), and many other First Class Monarchs and Chiefs across Yorubaland are expected at the grand finale.
Kabiyesi Alayeluwa shall be conferring chieftaincy titles on some personalities who have been found worthy of the prestigious chieftaincy titles in recognition of their unquantifiable contributions to the Kingdom, and for their loyalty to the stool. Personalities that are considered for chieftaincy titles includes; Chief Waliu Layiwola Taiwo – Aare Ona Kankanfo of Otta, Awori Kingdom, Chief(Mrs) Kadijat Kuburat Adebisi Edionseri – Iya Oba of Otta, Awori Kingdom, Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Ahmed – Yeye Iwase of Otta, Awori Kingdom, Chief Rotimi Isola – Aare Bobajiro of Otta, Awori Kingdom, Chief Abayomi Alani Bankole – Babaloja of Otta, Awori Kingdom and Chief Abigael Adedokun as the Olori Eleja in Ado-Odo/Ota.
ABOUT OBA ADEYEMI OBALANLEGE IN BRIEF
His Majesty, Oba Adeyemi Abdukabir Obalanlege Ph.D, MCIPR, MPRII, FHEA ( Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode) was born on 28th August 1966 in Mushin, an ancient Awori town in Lagos State.
He is the third of six children of Prince Taiwo Hassan Obalanlege of Ijemo compound, Otta and Princess Mutiat Afolake Obalanlege (Nee Anjorin) of Isoloshi compound, Otta.
Oba Adeyemi, on November 28th, 2017, emerged victorious out of 22 contenders for the stool.
He was traditionally crowned as the Olota of Otta on 28th February 2018 at Enu Owa Square, Otta in tandem to aged long tradition of the foremost Awori Kingdom.
Oba Adeyemi is from the Ijemo Royal Dynasty of Ijemo-Isoloshi Rulling House of the three(3) Otta Royal Houses namely; Ijemo Isoloshi Ruling House, Ikowogbe Ruling House and Ileshi Royal House.
He attended early schools at Mushin and Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Isolo before berthing at Iganmode Grammar School, Otta. He earned an HND in Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic in 1991; got a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Journalism from Independent College, Dublin; attended University of Leicester, England for his Master’s in Mass Communication and bagged a P.hD in Communication Studies on Scholarship at University of Antwerp in Belgium.
Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege became a full Professor of Mass Communication after publishing in a plethora of respected academic journals, presenting papers across the continent of Africa, Europe and North America and supervising thesis and dissertations that earned him a deserved reputation as a world class scholar.
Kabiyesi didn’t just become a university teacher or professor, he’s total journalism personified. From the humble beginning as a reporter with the defunct The Mail Newspaper (1989 and 1990), and The Republic newspapers (1992 and 1993) where fortuitous made him meet Prof Idowu Sobowale, one of his mentors as an academic/professional journalist.
Alayeluwa became the Public Relation Officer at the Lagos State Polytechnic between 1993 and 1995 before he moved to Thisday Newspaper and became the toast of Duke of Nigeria’s media, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, who loved the manner he combined the coverage of the Tourism & Hospitality desk with marketing and advertising that earned huge revenue and respect for the news medium. It was from Thisday as Tourism Editor that he travelled to the United Kingdom to hone his skills and academic laurels, culminating in his lectureship at two leading British Universities: The University of East London and University of Lincoln. Back home in Nigeria, Oba Adeyemi taught at his alma mater, Ogun State Polytechnic, the Lagos State University and presently a professor at Crescent University, Abeokuta till date.
While in England he also became a media entrepreneur. He shuttled between Nigeria and the UK to produce his tourism, food hospitality compendium called Food International Magazine, which he rested to pursue his doctoral programme. He was the Editor/Publisher of City Vanguard newspaper, Ireland and ran it successfully for 12years.
After his coronation, Olofin Apesin Olode set the pace for “beginning of a new beginning” in the history of the Kingdom by meeting leading monarchs across Yorubaland such as; Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Late Alafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi (Iku Babayeye), Orangun of Ila, HRM Oba Abdulwahab Oyedokun, and several others to join the move of uniting “Omo Kaaro Ojire”, to also promote the heritage of Otta and Awori people at large.
Awori clan in Ogun state was able to have an illustrious daughter of Otta and a woman of valuable substance, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele as the Deputy Governor of Ogun State (The first time the Awori of Ogun state would be occupying such position since the creation of the State in 1976).
His reign has also witnessed the upgrading of the four(4) quarters Chiefs into a Coronet Obas. Kabiyesi equally reposition Olota-in-Council by ensuring that all vacant stools were occupied by the gazetted families and equally made an historic inclusion of females to the circle to act in some certain capacities.
Oba Adeyemi was actively involved in the establishment of Royal Foam, a leading foam factory in Otta, Ogun State.
Kabiyesi is dedicated to humanitarianism, Youth and women empowerment programs through Olota Help Initiatives to touch the lives of people in the society. Vocational Training, Free Interest Loan among others.
As a lover of tourism, he’s been able to transform the ancient city of Otta into a tourist zone. He has successfully initiated a well loaded compendium that captured many of the tourist attractions in the ancient City of Otta. The 2nd Story building in Nigeria, Oosa Aara, Colonial thumbs, the visit of Orunmila to Otta, greatness of Iyamis among others.
His Majesty has successfully revitalise so many Cultural Festival in the Kingdom such as; Odun Omo Iganmode, Ita Oba Day, Odun Aje , Ijamido Omi Atura among others. He has led several Awori International Tours to project and promote the rich cultural values and norms of the Aworis.
Under his leadership as the Chairman, Awori Obas Forum Ogun state, the forum has been able to embark on a Three(3) days Retreat that brought all Awori Monarchs together to draw up a sustainable template for the growth of Aworiland. Awori Monarchs through the forum equally took part in mediation and leadership training to further equip individuals especially on alternative dispute resolution to assist the judiciary in their own little capacity.
His Majesty reign has witnessed tremendous growth and development in the land. Otta township roads constructed by the State Government, Otta Mini Stadium and reconstruction of buildings in Schools from the Federal Government, Otta Vocational Center, Lighting of major roads through the office of Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
Kabiyesi Olota has implemented the vision of having a Central Palace in Otta. He has been able to put the Majestic edifice in a beautiful state with strong commitment in protecting the aged long points within the Palace including the Enu Owa.
It is important to note that Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege is so conscious of the security of his subjects. He has made several intervention in ensuring safety of lives and properties in the Kingdom.
To aid the operations of the Security Agencies; He has donated a vehicle to the Naval Officers of the Nigerian Navy School Otta, Toyota Hillux and motorcycle to Amotekun Corps, motorcycles to So-safe corps and vigilante, he has equally facilitated Excort vehicle for the Nigerian Police, Otta Command and the Navy from a leading Pastor in the Kingdom, Bishop David Oyedepo. Also, Kabiyesi Olota is instrumental to the citing of Amotekun base and So Safe(Otta Central base), he has also laid the foundation of another Police Division within Ott Central(Ongoing). He has equally made several intervention to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) and others in sustaining the peaceful atmosphere enjoyed in Otta and environs.
Oba Adeyemi Abdukabir Obalanlege is open to all and sundry, no wonder his line is always ON for 24hrs to attend to urgent/emergency matters as the case may be.
May the King live long. Kabiyesi Olota!
Prince Adeyemi Sulaimon Olusesi
Personal Assistant to His Majesty, Olota of Otta, Awori Kingdom
For: The Palace of Olota, the Paramount and Ancient Otta, Awori Kingdom
