Makinde presents Staff of Office to new Alaafin of Oyo

January 13, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has presented the staff of office to Prince Abimbola Owoade.

The new Alaafin was announced by the state Governor to succeed the late Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who died on April 22, 2022.

The ceremony took place at the Oyo state house on Monday

Governor Makinde, in his address, congratulated Prince Abimbola Owoade, urging him to build on the legacies of his predecessors.

The Governor assured the new monarch of his administration’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of Oyo town and the state at large.

Mr Owoade was born into the royal family of Owoade-Agunloye in Oyo. He is a descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade of the Agure Compound.

The new Alaafin completed his secondary education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, in 1992. He then proceeded to study Mechanical Engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (1994-1997), earning a National Diploma, and later obtained a Higher National Diploma in the same course from the Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999-2001).

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sunderland in 2008 and a Master of Science from Northumbria University in 2012.
After completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he worked temporarily at Oceanic Bank International Plc in Warri (2003-2004) as a teller.

He served as a planning engineer at Oil Reach Company in Glasgow before relocating to Canada. Currently, he is the project coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, a company renowned for providing utility services.

Mr Owoade is reputed for his initiatives aimed at empowering people, including widows. He also actively participates in several Yoruba cultural organisations abroad, highlighting his unbridled affinity for Yoruba cultural values and ethos.

He has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, steadfastness, and loyalty throughout his career. His wealth of experience is a unique trait people are looking forward to as he ascends the throne.