- List Of Eminent Nigerians Who Are OWU Indigenes
+Traditional Rulers Who Have OWU Blood In Them
Owu Kingdom has produced very many eminent Nigerians who have made a name for themselves in both public and private life. Though the list is long, City People has picked out about a few of such Owu sons and daughters who stand out from the pack.
There is Oba (Dr.) Adegboyega Olusanya Dosunmu, (CON), the Olowu Kangunere, Akobi Odua, Amororo II. He is the Olowu and paramount ruler of the ancient Owu Kingdom. He is the leader of the Owu people. General Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo (GCFR), is another Owu indigene. He has been a two-time President and Head of State of The Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is the Balogun of Owu Kingdom.
Senator Ibikunle Amosu (CON) FCA, the current Governor of Ogun State is also an Owu man. So also Prince Bolasodun Adesunmbo Ajibola (KBE), a former Attorney General and the Minister of Justice of Nigeria and a Judge of the International Court of Justice. He’s Oloori Omo’Oba of Owu Kingdom.
There is also primate Omolaja Olowunwo, Dr Onaolapo Soleye former minister of finance, Former minister Sharafadeen Ishola.
There is also Chief Olufemi Sodeinde, the Oloori Igbimo Owu Kingdom. A politician and philanthropist of repute. There is Chief M.A. Ola Yusuf, FCA, former Managing Director of John Holt. He is the Oloori Parakoyi of Owu Kingdom.
General Ekundayo Opaleye (rtd), former Military Governor of Ondo State is also Owu. Barrister Simeon Olugbemi Oshunbiyi, the Balogun Apomo of Owu Kingdom is also an Owu man.
There is also Chief Mrs. L.A.G. Adesida, Iyalode Owu Kingdom, former Oloori to late Oba Adesida of Adesida dynasty of Akure Kingdom, Ondo State.
There is also Aare Bolu Akin Olugbade the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Owu Kingdom. He is a successful businessman. His brother too is very successful. Omo’ba Olusunmade Akin-Olugbade, is a lawyer and he runs O.B.A. International Ltd.
There is also HRM Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, the Towulade of Akinale, Arole Olowu of Owu Kingdom, retired as a top Public Relations Executive at Nigerian Airways. There is also Chief Alani Opaleye, a seasoned insurance practitioner. He is the Parakoyi of Erunmu and Alakoso of Apo Owu. Chairman of Allan Q, Group of Companies including XL Insurance Brokers and Allaq Guest Home, Lagos. He is also the Royal Ambassador and Plenipotentiary to the Olowu of Owu Kingdom.
Prince Hon. Adekunle Adesina is also from Owu. He is the Senatorial Chairman of APC. There are others like popular Socialite, Chief Prince Fatai Niyi Adegbenro, Seriki of Owu Kingdom, former Commissioner for Finance, Ogun State, Chief Dele Bankole, Aare Okanlomo of Owu Kingdom. He is the MD/CEO Overage Energy Limited based in Lagos, Dr. Banji Oyegbami, Omotadese of Owu Kingdom. He’s Chairman Beta Hospital, Lagos, Engr. Festus Egbeleye, the Baaloro of Owu Kingdom. A renowned Aeronautical Engineer, Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) M.A. Bankole, Iyaloja of Owu Kingdom, the mother of former Speaker of House Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Apostle Prince Rotimi Martins, a reputable business man with interest in Aviation, Hospitality and IT is also from Owu. He is the Omotaiyese of Owu Kingdom. Professor Fabunmi, a legal luminary, Babamofin of Owu Kingdom, Engineer Tony Ojesina, former Commissioner for Environment Ogun State, he is the Asiwaju of Owu Kingdom.
Princess Moninuade Quadri, a school proprietress, Erelu Gbogbade of Owu Kingdom. Chief Seyi Aderiokun, a Federal Commissioner based in Abuja. She is the sister to the late Chief Executive and Managing of GTB, Tayo Aderinokun. Chief Kayode Aderinokun, the Lokosi of Owu Kingdom. An industrialist and a reputable banker.
Chief Olufemi Osanyinjobi, Oloori Igbimo Apomu, Owu Kingdom, an IT Consultant, a promoter of Owu culture and heritage through his popular blog “Owulakoda”.
Chief Doja Adewolu, also known as “Baba Governor”. He is the Otun of Owu Kingdom. Chief Adebayo Adeyemi, Chairman of the Owu Alakoso’s. Former Federal Commissioner of Revenue Mobilisation under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Rear Admiral Dele Oshunmakinde, Babaloja of Owu Kingdom. An industrialist specialising in textile manufacturing based in Calabar. Barrister Adisa Adewolu, former Attorney General of Ogun State. Alokoso Owu Surulere.
Not many people know that the Owu people are ubiquitous in many Nigerian cities and towns. Apart from the Owus in Abeokuta, you can find them in Ijebu, Iwo, Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Abeokuta, Ilorin and in many more towns and other states. There are also pockets of Owu settlers in other countries in the West Coast of Africa. They meet every December under the auspices of The Royal Union of Owu People (RUOP).
Unknown to many, they are about 14 royal fathers and 14 other Owu Traditional heads. And they have all been meeting every year since December 1992. The first meeting was organised by Balogun of Owu, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The following year, the Orile Owu community played host, followed by the Owu Ijebu zone and then the Owu Ikosi Lagos zone. After that of December 1996, Owu Kwara zone took its turn, then Owu Ibadan played host. That meeting was followed by that of Iwo and then Ogbomosho. That was how it came till last year December when the Owu Kuta zone in Osun played host.
OWU ROYAL FATHERS
Alaiyeluwa Oba Adekunle Hammed Makama Oyelude Olowu of Owu Kuta (State of Osun), (Current Chairman, Supreme Council of Owu Obas), Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) Gabriel O. Adewoye, Olowu of Owu-Isin (Kwara State); Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) Olusanya A. Dosunmu, Olowu of Owu, Abeokuta (Ogun State), Alaiyeluwa (Oba Engr. Michael Olusegun Adesina, Olowu of Owu-Ijebu (Ogun State) Alaiyeluwa M. O. Mosuro JP., Olowu of Owu Ijebu (Ogun State), Alaiyeluwa Oba Olusegun M. Abajo, Olowu Iji of Odolowu Ijebu (Ogun State), Alaiyeluwa ObaA. Y. Ogunbajo, Olowu of Owu Ikosi (Lagos State), Alaiyeluwa Oba Madojutola Alade Ajiboye, Olowu of Telemu (State of Osun ) Alaiyeluwa, Oba M. A. Adedeji JP., Olowu of Owu Epe, Ilesha (State of Osun), Alaiyeluwa Oba KamorudeenAjiboye Sanni, Olowu of Obaloyan Alaiyeluwa Oba Mufutau Olanrewaju Ogunnukan Adegbajo, Olowu of Gbawojo the Late Oba Lawrence Adefisoye Onayemi, Olowu of Ilemowu (State of Osun), the Late Oba Bashiru Adeleke, Olowu of Owu Ile (State of Osun), the Late Oba M. A. Adejobi, Olowu of Orile Owu (State of Osun)
OTHER OWU TRADITIONAL HEADS
Alhaji Safiriyu Mobolaji Shittu, Regent Owu Aiyepe, Ijebu (Ogun State), Chief R. O. Lawal, Mogaji Oota, Owu Ibadan (Oyo State), the Late Alhaji ChiefS. A. Okuneye, Head of Owu-Ijebu Igbo (Ogun State), Chief Salawudeen Jolaiya, Head of Owu Oke-Ode (Kwara State), Chief C. A. Sanyaolu, Mogaji Owu Lagos II Oloye John Gbade, Mogaji, Owu Modakeke (State of Osun), Alhaji (Chief) R. A. Adeniji, Mogaji Owu Ode-Omu (State of Osun), High ChiefJacobAyodele Olowoake, Mogaji Owu-Igbooye (Lagos State), Alhaji Imam Abass Ayinde Bello, Head ofOwu Igbo Tele (Kwara), Chief Engr. L. A. Adeyinka, Mogaji Owu Iwo (Osun), the Late Otunba Babatunde Ogebule, Head of Okeolowu, Ijebu (Ogun State), the Late Prophet Olasunkanrni M. Olugbode, Mogaji Olugbode, Owu Ibadan the Late Chief Abimoye Oyelese, Head of Owu Erunmu and the Late Sir Adebayo Adekola, Mogaji Owu Ogbomosho (Oyo State).
GENERAL HISTORY OF OWUS
The first Olowu of Owu was a grandson of Oduduwa. Being a son of a Princess, daughter of Oduduwa. Olowu derived his royalty from his maternal descent from Oduduwa and, therefore, acquired the right to wear a crown as his uncles in an unusual circumstances.
The story as recorded by Samuel Johnson is that, when Olowu was a child, he often played on his grandfather’s lap, while the old man wore his crown. In one of such childish pranks, the child pulled at the crown and his indulgent grandfather placed it on his head much to the delight of the child. When attempts were made to take the crown back, the child was said to have cried so much that the grandfather directed that the boy be allowed to keep it. Thus, the first Olowu came to be called ASUNKUNGBADE (One who cried to secure a crown). This story is accepted by generations of surviving Owu Communities to date that the first Olowu was Asunkungbade, hence the name becoming one of the appellations (Oriki) of all Owus.
It is interesting to note that wherever Olowu’s children went to establish settlements, they usually went with a Beaded Crown and are generally referred to as Olowus with the appellations (Omo) sons to Ajibosin to indicate that they all have common Ancestor “Oba Ajibosin”, founder and first Olowu of Owu Dynasty.
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