Ibadan, Nigeria | July 7, 2025
The ancient city of Ibadan has been plunged into mourning following the passing of its 43rd monarch, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who transitioned to the ancestral realm in the early hours of Monday, just two days after celebrating his landmark 90th birthday. The revered traditional ruler’s death marks the end of a remarkable one-year reign that began when Governor Seyi Makinde presented him with the staff of office on July 12, 2024, following the demise of his predecessor Oba Lekan Balogun.
Born on July 5, 1935, into the distinguished Owolabi family of Okugbaja village, the late monarch’s life journey mirrored the evolution of modern Nigeria – from his early education at St. Peter’s Primary School in Aremo to his distinguished military career where he rose to the rank of Major in the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers. After commanding army maintenance regiments across Jos, Kaduna and Lagos, the industrious officer turned entrepreneur established successful businesses including FAKOL Nigeria Ltd construction firm and Solid Prints before answering the call to serve as a federal legislator in 1992.
His ascension to the revered Olubadan stool last year represented the crowning achievement of a life dedicated to service, though his brief reign leaves unfinished the ambitious plans he had for Nigeria’s largest traditional city. Palace sources confirm the nonagenarian ruler had been actively discharging his royal duties until his final days, having recently presided over anniversary celebrations that now assume the bittersweet character of a farewell tribute. As Ibadan prepares for the elaborate traditional rites befitting a monarch of his stature, the city remembers a man whose multifaceted legacy spans military discipline, entrepreneurial vision, political leadership and ultimately, custodianship of Yoruba cultural heritage.
