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From His School Of Governance Studies @ OOU
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Daughter, Princess ADETOUN ADETONA DARAMOLA Reveals
On Friday 10th May, 2024, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebu land, had a triple celebration as he gathered some of the most powerful personalities in the land to celebrate three significant milestones with him. First, the highly revered monarch was celebrating his 90th birthday. Second, he was also celebrating his 64 years on the throne, making him the longest reigning monarch in the country and possibly one of the longest reigning kings in the world. Finally, he was also commissioning the Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies complex, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago-Iwoye. All of these were part of the week long activities lined up to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of Yoruba land’s most admired and respected monarchs.
The event hall named Ogbagba hall, after the monarch, was filled to overflowing. Everyone that mattered in Ogun State was present at the event. Starting from the president who was ably represented by his Deputy, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to the various royal fathers spread across some of the biggest towns in Ijebu land to captains of industry and politicians of repute, they were all in attendance. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife were also present along side prominent Ijebu high chiefs led by the Ogbeni Oja himself, (Dr.) Olorogun Sunny Kuku. Also present to celebrate with the Awujale is the Chief of Staff to the President, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Several senators, serving and former, House of Representatives members, both serving and former, spread across the country, were gathered at the event to celebrate with the Awujale. Ministers, serving and former, like Dr. Mrs. Onikepo Akande, were also in atendance. The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was also present to felicitate with the paramount ruler of Ijebu land.
This monumental achievement by the Awujale didn’t come as a surprise to many who know the Awujale’s antecedents when it comes to investing in education. He has always shown total commitment and dedication to the improvement of the quality of education not just in Ogun State but in the country as a whole. The Awujale has always been at the forefront of the empowerment of indigenes of Ogun State to get quality education and advance their quest for knowledge for as far as they desire. The President, speaking through his Deputy, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, also revealed his appreciation of Awujale’s investment in education. The President noted that the numerous contributions of Oba Adetona to national development, particularly in the education sector have expanded the sector to optimal delivery through various donations and endowments.
He described the monarch as forthright with exceptional character who stood his ground and confronted injustice in all ramifications, commending him for his role in ensuring the return of democratic governance in Nigeria. The President went on to aver that Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance Studies would be taken over and managed by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
Within and outside Olabisi Onabanjo University, you can find the footprints of Oba Sikiru Adetona everywhere. And the people of Ijebu and indeed the entire state acknowledge this.
At the commissioning of the Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Olabisi Onabanjo, Ago-Iwoye, one of the beautiful daughters of the Awujale, Princess Adetoun Adetona Daramola spoke about the Awujale’s passion for education and how the dream for the school of governance began. The very beautiful and eloquent Princess also explained why the Awujale set up the School of Governance.
In the opening remarks of her speech, she started by expressing her gratitude to everyone who took time out to honourher father on his special day. “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for joining us to celebrate my father, the Awujale’s remarkable 90th birthday celebration and his 64 years on the throne,” she said to the gathering.
“Daddy’s journey has been a testament of his strength, wisdom and above all, grace of God. When Daddy first spoke about this project a few years ago, I couldn’t have imagined how grand all of these would be. He saw way ahead of us. He was trying to prepare a generation of future leaders. The idea behind the school of governance is to have an institution from which a large generation of future leaders would emerge. We are so proud of you and we are so grateful that our generation can benefit immensely from this. Awujale has been an outstanding father and his impact on his biological and non-biological children knows no bound. We, the children, are so blessed to have you and we pray God will continue to give you good health.”
The high point of the event undoubtedly was when President Bola Tinubu conferred on the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) to mark the monarch’s 90th birthday celebration. This clearly took everyone by surprise as no one saw it coming. The President, who was ably represented by he vice President Kashim Shettima,, said the rvered monarch deserved the honour because of his contributions to national building and merritorious service to humanity.
Just before the Vice President made the announcement, many of the guests present must’ve been puzzled when, in the middle of his spech, he demanded that everyone paid attention to what he was about to say. He went to specifically ask the Awujale’s Olori to put aside her phone and listen to what he was about to say next. And that was when he dropped the big news that the Awujale, Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, had been confered with the second highest title in the land, the GCON. The entire hall promptly rose to its feet in resounding applause as dignataries took turns to congratulate the birthday boy.
Apart from the commissioning and unveiling of the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona School of Governance Studies, there was also the presentation of a book titled; “Reinventing Governance in Nigeria: The Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Model.” The volumnous book was shared around and given to almost everyone in the hall.
– WALE LAWAL
(08037209290)
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