June 26, 2021
The Awujale of Ijebuland was the Special Guest of Honour at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Annual Lecture, Life Achievement Awards, and Induction of Fellows on Wednesday, June 24, 2021.
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The Academy presented Kabiyesi’s profile as follows:
A CITATION OF THE SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR
ALAIYELUWA, OBA (DR.) SIKIRU KAYODE ADETONA CFR, J.P. OGBAGBA II, AWUJALE & PARAMOUNT RULER OF IJEBULAND
Kabiyesi, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Awujale & Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland was born into the Anikilaya Ruling House, one of the 4 Ruling Houses in Ijebu-Ode on May 10, 1934.
He was nominated along with five other Princes and unanimously selected after thorough screening by the kingmakers in conformity with the Law. With enthusiasm, notables Ijebu elites arranged for the homecoming of the King-elect from United Kingdom where he was studying Accountancy. The formal coronation took place on Saturday, April 2, 1960, and he was aged 26 years old.
Alaiyeluwa remains a primus inter pares among the Obas in Yorubaland and indeed the first to reckon with in Nigeria. However, by the special grace of God, he has been on the throne of his forefathers for over 61 years as the second longest reigning King after Queen Elizabeth II in the Commonwealth. He is so blessed with the grace of the Lord to have wined and dined along with 15 Nigerian Presidents, 23 State Governors, about 40 Council Chairman in his own primary domain of Ijebu-Ode, three Ooni of Ile-Ife, two Alaafin of Oyo: four Alake of Egbaland, two Akarigbo of Remoland and 15 Olubadan of Ibadanland. A great feat indeed!
Awujale is an incorruptible Royal Father who has weathered through several storms during the civilian and military regimes but emerged victorious and vindicated in his belief for the Rule of Law that prevailed. A Nationalist who believes in the Project Nigeria and a reformer of traditional affairs in Yorubaland. His reign has brought so many economic, social, and cultural development to his domain and Ijebuland in general especially in banking, insurance, transportation, education, industries, trade & commerce. In the area of cultural rejuvenation, the traditional Age Grades (Regberegbe) relationship among his subjects. The Annual Ojude-Oba Carnival that has attracted global attention and attendance with its economic value is an offshoot of this idea, to his credit, he was instrumental to the establishment of Ijebu Development Poverty Reduction programme (IDIPR, Eriwe Farm Village) in line with the urban management program to tackle urban poverty. The initiative has an annual turnover of over N60 billion, and it has remained a case study for researchers from World Bank, Africa Development Bank, Food & Agricultural organization among other global poverty alleviation initiatives.
Alaiyeluwa is also committed to quality education, human capital development, capacity building, research, mentorship, community engagement, good governance, and scholarship of Nigerian youths irrespective of their state of origin, tribe, and religion. In consonance with his belief, he established a professorial chair in Governance for the promotion of good governance at the Department of Political Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. The endowment has added The Institute of Governance and Innovation Studies to award Diploma Certificates, Research to Masters and PhD degree levels in Governance and Innovation The initiation is worth over N2 billions of his personal resources to lure the best brains in good governance, corporate and political leadership to fertilize the students, staff and indeed the entire university community with a view to raising and unleashing good governance champions on the Nigerian community.
Oba Dr S K Adetona, Ogbagba Agbotewole II, the Awujale of Ijebuland D.Litt. (Honoris causa, University of Lagos), D.SC (Honoris Causa, Olabisi Onabanjo University), PhD (Honoris causa, Tai Solarian University of education) has been Chancellor to several Universities in Nigeria.
Alaiyeluwa is happily married and blessed with great children and grandchildren who remain the source of joy to him and the entire Ijebuland.
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Thanks Engr Titi. It may be of interest to you late Prince Supo Adetona, the immediate Junior brother of Awujale, was my class mate at Molusi College. He died few years ago. Awujale has been blessed with unique longevity. Praise God.