The family of the late Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, has officially announced a series of commemorative events to mark the 10th anniversary of the revered monarch’s passing.
The announcement was made on Tuesday at a press conference held in Lagos, where family representatives and event organizers outlined a robust memorial programme designed to reflect the life, leadership, and enduring legacy of the late Ooni.
Titled “A Decade of Legacy,” the anniversary celebration will include cultural exhibitions, spiritual reflections, intellectual engagements, and initiatives focused on legacy-building.
The memorial is being organized in partnership with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, under the joint stewardship of its co-chairmen—His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, and His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, the Sultan of Sokoto.
One of the key highlights of the programme is an Inter-School Debate Tour, which will be held across Lagos, Abeokuta, and Ile-Ife—three cities closely tied to the personal and royal journey of Oba Sijuwade. Participating schools include King’s College in Lagos; Abeokuta Grammar School, which is the late monarch’s alma mater; and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife.
The students will engage in intellectual discourse on the theme: “Traditional Governance vs. Modern Democracy: Which Best Preserves Cultural Heritage?” The final round of the debate is scheduled to take place on July 25, 2025.
As part of the cultural programming, a Grand Memorial Exhibition curated by cultural historian Dr. Oludamola Adebowale will open to the public. The exhibition will showcase rare personal items, regal photographs, and archival documents from the late Ooni’s life and reign.
Artifacts have been sourced from the National Archives of Nigeria, the UK National Archives, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in the UK, the African American Research Library and Cultural Centre in Florida (featuring the Niara Sudarkasa Collection), and the Sijuwade Personal Collection. It will mark the first time many of these materials are being made available for public viewing.
The concluding events will take place in Ile-Ife, considered the spiritual and cultural heart of the Yoruba people. A church thanksgiving service will precede solemn prayers at the mausoleum of the late monarch, serving as a sacred and symbolic end to the commemorations.
Representing the Ooni at the press briefing, the Asoya of Isoya, His Royal Highness Oba Muraina Adebanjo Adedini, paid glowing tribute to the late monarch. “Oba Sijuwade was not just a custodian of tradition but a bridge between past and future. His leadership united us, and his legacy must be carried forward with dignity and vision,” he stated.
Veteran journalist and Ovation Magazine publisher, Chief Dele Momodu, also shared personal reflections, recalling his time in the service of the late Ooni during the 1980s. “I was privileged to serve in Baba’s household as a young man. Baba was a unifier,” Momodu said.
The 10th anniversary memorial seeks to honour not only the memory of a monarch but also the ideals of unity, diplomacy, and cultural pride that he embodied throughout his reign.
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