Ibadan, the historic heartbeat of Yorubaland, witnessed a momentous occasion as former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, was crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The revered statesman received his crown in a traditional ceremony at the Ose Meji Temple, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, shortly after being bestowed with the symbolic Akoko leaf at the Labosinde Compound, Oja’ba. His installation marks a new chapter in the city’s rich lineage of monarchs.
Ladoja succeeds the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan, who joined his ancestors on July 7, 2025.
In line with tradition, Governor Seyi Makinde is expected to formally present the new monarch with the staff of office at a grand ceremony in Mapo Hall, the cultural heart of Ibadan.
The installation, bursting with colour and tradition, drew a distinguished array of royal fathers, dignitaries, and faithful residents adorned in vibrant Yoruba attire.
Among the eminent guests were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Ọlaoye; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; and the Chief Imam of Ibadan.
To ensure a seamless celebration, the city was fortified with tight security as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies maintained order.
The Olubadan throne remains one of Nigeria’s most respected traditional institutions, celebrated for its unique and orderly succession system that sets it apart in the country’s cultural heritage.
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