All roads lead to Efon Alaaye in Ekiti State on Saturday, April 4, 2026, as twenty Patriots are slated for investiture into the Efon Hall of Fame and Roll of Honour.
The 20 Awardees named for Inauguration by the Alaaye of Efon Kingdom includes 16 new nominees and the formal induction of four others previously admitted into the prestigious Efon Alaaye Hall of Fame and Roll of Honour.
The Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, HRM Oba Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare, will on Easter Saturday lead members of the Alaaye-In-Council at the grand ceremony scheduled for his palace, to celebrate the 20 distinguished sons and daughters of the ancient community, whose contributions have significantly advanced its growth and development.
The four patriots earlier admitted but yet to be formally inducted are: the late Asiwaju Dr. Bola BALOGUN; Prof. Michael Oluwafemi AJISAFE, former Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University; Prof. (Pastor) Elijah Afolabi BAMGBOYE, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan; and Pastor Richard Adelowo ADEJUYIGBE, a retired Permanent Secretary in the old Ondo and present Ekiti State.
Among the 16 new nominees for induction are five posthumous awardees: Chief James Afolabi AIYEGBUSI; Chief Philip Olatunde FAGBEYIRO; Chief Gabriel Afolabi OJO; Pastor Stephen Folorunsho OBISESAN; and the Dr. Chief Oluwole Bamidele OLULEYE, the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.
Other awardees, who are alive to receive their honour, include: Prof. Opeyemi OLA, a nonagenarian and Second Republic member of the House of Representatives; Chief Francis Olulade MOGAJI, first Group Managing Director of the Oodua Group; Princess Francesca Aderonke OKUSANYA, veteran broadcaster and female gender advocate; Engr. Chief Adefemi KILA, retired top tecknocrat at Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and formerly a Senator; Mr. Luke Bola ABIMBOLA, retired public servant and a dedicated community leader, as well as Hon. Justice Monisola Oluwatoyin ABODUNDE, first indigenous highest judicial officer from Efon Alaaye.
Also to receive the Efon Alaaye highest Honour’ are five other distinguished figures, who had served at the highest levels of the Efon Alaaye Development League, the community’s umbrella socio-cultural organisation. They are: Panaf Olajide Odunayo OLAKANMI Esq.; Ajiroba Chief Patrick Akinboye OJO; Thomas Olabode FAGBEMIRO; Balogun (Engr.) Olu Olu AIYEGBUSI, an industrialist as well as Prince Sunday A. ADEYEMI-ADEJOLU, fnipr, the immediate past Chairman of the Ekiti State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and former Acting Registrar of The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.
According to Oba Adesanya ALADEJARE, the honourees were meticulously selected based on their pedigree, professional accomplishments, and verifiable contributions to the transformation and sustained development of Efon Kingdom.
The monarch noted that the ‘Efon Hall of Fame’ represents the highest honour reserved for patriots, who have demonstrated uncommon commitment to the progress of Efon Alaaye.
Among those earlier called up and inducted in previous ceremonies are notable personalities, including the founding General Evangelist of the Christs Apostolic Church, the late Apostle Joseph Ayo BABALOLA; Major General James J. OLULEYE, former Federal Minister during the Murtala/Obasanjo regime; Prof. C.I.O. OLANIYAN; Otunba Adebodun O. ADEWUMI, Esq. the first Efon Alaaye-born lawyer; Pastor Joshua Adeware ALOKAN; Professor Olagoke ILORI; the late Otunba Dr. Kunle OLASOPE; Prof. C. S. OLA, former Secretary to Government in the old Ondo State; Asiwaju Dr. Bola BALOGUN and Professor Oladunni OLANIYAN-TAYLOR, an award winning scientist during her days at the University of Ibadan.
The living inductees from previous ceremonies include, Aare Dr. Eugene Adekunle OLAJIDE, first Efon Alaaye-born medical doctor and elder statesman; Prof. Dipo KOLAWOLE, former Vice-Chancellor of the then University of Ado-Ekiti; Prof. (Pastor) Afolabi BAMGBOYE, Fmr DVC at UI; Chief Jacob Oke ELEKOLUSI, a nonagenarian and foremost chartered accountant; Prof. Adeyinka Gladys FALUSI, an award-winning scientist and founder of Hope Alive Initiative to rid the society of the Sickle Cell menace.
Also among the past Recipients are Olagoke Oluyemi FAKUNLE (SAN), first Efon Alaaye-born Senior Advocate of Nigeria; Prof. Michael O. AJISAFE, Africa’s first Professor of Sports; Chief Olatunde ASHAOLU, a keen philanthropist; Pastor Richard A. ADEJUYIGBE; and Pastor Mrs. Morenike Olapeju BABAFEMI, the first Ekiti State female Head of Service.
This year’s Holy Saturday’s ceremony is expected to draw dignitaries from across Nigeria, indigenes in the diaspora, and friends of the Efon Kingdom.
The event further underscores the Alaaye’s commitment to preserving the legacy of excellence and inspiring future generations to contribute meaningfully to the development of Efon Alaaye kingdom.
