Wale Jagun with Simire Oluwatobilob, Taiwo Oluwatoyin & Boluwatife Orebajo (Trainees)
-Celebration reflects exceptional leadership – Deputy Governor
Education took the centre stage on Tuesday during the continuation of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr. Dr.) Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu’s 10th Coronation Anniversary with a grand commemorative public lecture, formal launch of a visionary foundation, and the award of scholarships to 50 deserving students.
The event, held at the Ayangburen Palace, brought together traditional rulers, government officials, scholars, eminent Ikorodu sons and daughters, social clubs, and community stakeholders. It reflected not only the celebration of Ayangbure’s transformative decade of leadership but also heralded a new chapter of youth empowerment and development.
At the event were the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa and Pro-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University and Director of the Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), who was the the keynote speaker, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, HRM Oba Semiudeen Orinadegun Kasali and Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, the Odofin of Ikorodu.
The lecture was themed, “Contemporary Traditional Rulers and The Quest for Inclusive Governance and Development in Nigeria”
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Chairman, Public Lecture and Scholarship sub – committee, setting the tone for the event, said many major milestones have been recorded across different sectors, leading to peace, prosperity and exponential growth of the Ikorodu Kingdom emphasizing that the past decade had ushered in tremendous growth and transformation for the Ikorodu Kingdom.
He said that the theme of the lecture aptly captured the passion of our Alaiyeluwa and the strategic roles of traditional rulers, towards engendering good governance and societal development, adding that the royal foundation and award of scholarship to 50 students further lend strong credence to the commitment of Oba Shotobi to human capacity development and academic excellence among his subjects.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr Hamzat Obafemi, who was the Special Guest, commended the royal father for his impacts and the synergy that his reign has brought between his people and the government.
He was represented by Dr. Nurudeen Yekinni Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Rural Development.
“This milestone reflects a decade of exceptional leadership, where Kabiyesi has harmoniously blended cultural heritage with visionary governance, fostering peace, unity, and unprecedented development in Ikorodu Kingdom.
“Over the past ten years, Kabiyesi’s reign has strengthened the synergy between traditional authority and government, attracting key developmental projects such as rural electrification, road rehabilitation, cultural preservation, and initiatives that promote peace and security, notably the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative Limited (IDPIL).
“Today’s Public Lecture, Scholarship Awards, and Clubs & Societies’ Parade here at the Ikorodu Ultra-Modern Town Hall are clear examples of Kabiyesi’s enduring commitment to education, youth empowerment, and community growth.
“I extend warm congratulations to all scholarship recipients and encourage them to make the most of this opportunity by becoming ambassadors of excellence and service to our community.”
In his keynote lecture by Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, who examined the evolving role of monarchs in modern governance, emphasizing how traditional institutions can foster inclusive leadership, grassroots development, and youth participation.
The Professor of History and one of Nigeria’s most celebrated academics with over 150 scholarly publications, provided an in-depth look into the origins of the Obaship and Olisaship institutions in Ikorodu, tracing the evolution of the town’s governance structure and the roles of early settlers in establishing a functional and peaceful society.
According to the lecturer, the institution of Obaship was historically conceded to the Akarigbo line, while the Olisaship was given to the Benin settlers. The Oba emerged as the reigning monarch, while Olisa became the kingmaker and Prime Minister of the city-state. The Olisa, described with the Yoruba metaphor “Ajuwe – Akoye Orulu egbin o lamuren a worun”, was revered as a noble administrator, second only to the Oba.
He also said that the traditional governance system was supported by key institutions and deities such as the Osugbo, Awo Opa, Inomu, and Eluku, all established to promote order and ensure the smooth administration of the town. Oluwo served as the administrative head, while the town was organized into smaller community units known as Ituns, which were grouped under three major divisions: Ijomu, Aga, and Isele.
The lecture further highlighted that the Obaship and Olisaship are traditional and hereditary titles, stating that the two Ruling Houses for the Obaship are the Lasunwon and Rademo Houses, while the Olisaship is preserved for the descendants of the original Benin settlers.
Tracing the development of the town, Prof. Oyeweso said that Ikorodu was once an enclosed town with city walls for protection, but gradually expanded with the influx of migrants. He added that the migrants established settlements known as Ituns, such as Itun Layeodo (migrants from Ode-Remo), Itagbodo (from Oke-Gbodo), Itun Elepe (from Elepe in Shagamu), Itun Iwaiye (from Iwaiye in Ogun State), Itunsoku (from Isokun in Shagamu), and Itun Ojoru (from Egba settlers in Abeokuta) among others.
According to the guest lecturer, the town was a spherical settlement enclosed by walls that ran through present-day Ireshe Road, Ota-Ona, Eluku Street, Alhaji Street, and Owolowo Street, forming the totality of old Ikorodu.
He further stated that the old Ikorodu settlement adopted a cosmopolitan outlook, driven by trade and commerce. “Apart from agriculture, the early inhabitants engaged in cloth dyeing, fishing, and other commercial activities, establishing a bustling coastal market at Ebute, which attracted traders from distant locations,” he said.
One of the scholarship awardees, Tairat Adesewa Taiwo, a 300 level Accounting student, Lagos State University, Department of Accounting, expressed her happiness and thanked Oba Shotobi for the support.
“I’m grateful and happy for being part of the beneficiaries, and I promise that I’ll make sure to use the money resourcefully. It was really tough last session for my parents to pay my school fees. I will use part of the money to pay for my next session’s school fees, which is a big relief for me. I’m really honoured to be part of it.
“We were like 10 from my school that came for the interview, and I was the only person that was picked. I’m so grateful, and I wish my parents were here to celebrate this with me. Unfortunately, they are occupied with one or two things. I was not expecting to be picked, and it’s really an honour. A very big thank you to Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi. May Almighty Allah continue to bless him; may he continue to excel in all parts of life,” she prayed.
Another beneficiary, Olutoyin Mahfuz Adegbola, a 300-level student of Actuarial Science, UNILAG, said that his effort at academic excellence paid off with the scholarship. He too appreciated Ayangbure for the academic support.
“I’m really excited because as a student, I have put in efforts into my academics to be able to qualify for this scholarship. Like we all know, there was an interview process and all of that. I’m really grateful that I come from Ikorodu. I really appreciate the work Kabiyesi is doing here. He’s not working alone; he allows people to assist him to glorify the work that he’s doing. So, I’m really appreciative.”
Other eminent guests at the event were Olori Kudirat Shotobi, wife of Oba Shotobi, Hon. Roheem Adams, the majority leader Lagos State House of Assembly who represented the Speaker, Chief Olabanji Oreagba, Olumale Eluku of Ikorodu, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, APC chieftain, Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo, former Chairman, IKODASS, Otunba Ayodele Elesho, the Agbaakin of Ikorodu, Chief (Mrs) Busola Isikalu, Iyaloja General of Ikorodu Division, Alhaji Monzor Olowoshago, Publisher, Oriwu Sun, Mr Fatai Lasisi, Commissioner, Lagos State Civil Service Commission and Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Chairman, IKODASS among others.
