Ibadan, Oyo State Former Governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has been officially crowned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, marking a historic moment in the ancient city’s traditional leadership.
The coronation ceremony took place at the Ose Meji Temple, located in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, where traditional rites were performed in accordance with customs passed down through generations. Earlier in the day, Ladoja had received the symbolic Akoko leaf at the Labosinde Compound in Oja’ba, Ibadan a significant ritual in the Olubadan ascension process.
The final stage of his enthronement will be the formal presentation of the Staff and Instrument of Office by Governor Seyi Makinde. The highly anticipated presentation is scheduled to take place at the iconic Mapo Hall, a historical site that has witnessed many key events in the city’s history. Governor Makinde, who reportedly cut short his annual leave to personally attend the coronation, is expected to lead a delegation of dignitaries, traditional rulers, and government officials at the ceremony.
Ladoja’s elevation to the throne comes following the passing of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Dr. Moshood Olalekan Balogun, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025. With his ascension, Oba Ladoja becomes the latest custodian of Ibadan’s rich heritage and traditions.
A respected elder statesman and influential figure in Nigerian politics, Oba Ladoja previously served as the Executive Governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2007. His reign as Olubadan is expected to bring a blend of traditional wisdom and modern governance experience to the palace.
The coronation has drawn widespread attention across Yorubaland and beyond, as Ibadan celebrates not only a new monarch but also the legacy of continuity in one of the most unique traditional systems in Nigeria where succession to the throne is determined by a rotational hierarchy among high chiefs, rather than hereditary lineage.
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