Following his official coronation as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I has stepped into one of the most revered traditional stools in Yorubaland.
He succeeds the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who passed away in April 2022 after over five decades on the throne.
Here are 10 key things to know about the new Alaafin:
- 46th Alaafin of Oyo
Oba Abimbola Owoade was recently crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, succeeding the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who died in April 2022. - Royal Heritage
He hails from the Owoade-Agunloye royal family in Oyo Town and is a descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade of Agure Compound. - Age and Early Life
Born 47 years ago, the new Alaafin was raised in Oyo and completed his secondary education at Baptist High School, Saki. - Family Background
His father was a civil servant with the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme (ONADEP), contributing to agricultural advancement in the Oke-Ogun area. - Educational Background in Nigeria
He studied Mechanical Engineering, obtaining his National Diploma from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (1994–1997), and HND from The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999–2001). - NYSC and Early Career
He completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2002 at Nigeria Gas Company and later worked as a cashier at Oceanic Bank, Warri, between 2003 and 2004. - Overseas Education
Oba Owoade furthered his studies in the United Kingdom, earning B.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sunderland (2008) and Northumbria University (2012). - Professional Certifications
He became a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) in June 2015, a globally recognised credential in the engineering and business field. - Work Experience Abroad
Before ascending the throne, he worked as a Planning Engineer with Oil Reach Company in Glasgow and later became Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, a leading utility company in Canada. - Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Oba Owoade is also a successful businessman, running real estate and financial service firms in Manitoba, Canada. He is known for his philanthropic activities both in Nigeria and abroad.
