The first ten years of the reign of Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, have been described as a turning point in the evolution of Yoruba traditional leadership, marking a new era of unity, cultural renaissance, youth empowerment and global influence.
According to the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni’s decade on the throne has redefined modern Yoruba leadership through visionary governance, strategic diplomacy and a purposeful philosophy that centres on unity, culture and youth development.
Olafare made the assertion in a detailed reflection titled "BLUEPRINTS AND FOOTMARKS: HIGHLIGHTS OF A MONARCH'S GOVERNING IDEAS AND MAJOR PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FIRST DECADE", which captures the Ooni’s governing ideals and major achievements since ascending the throne of Oduduwa on December 7, 2015.
He noted that the Ooni’s reign is driven by a transformative philosophy that emphasizes unity as a divine mandate, youth as catalysts of national rebirth and culture as a tool for global relevance.
He recalled that one of the monarch’s earliest acts was his historic reconciliation visit to the late Alaafin of Oyo, a gesture that ended decades of rivalry between two of the most symbolic thrones in Yoruba history. The Ooni’s diplomatic engagements, he said, later extended across Yorubaland and to Yoruba-descendant communities in Edo, Itsekiri, Ewe, Ga, Luo, Lucumi and the Caribbean, before evolving into broader peacebuilding efforts that strengthened national cohesion across Nigeria.
Olafare further explained that youth empowerment remains one of the most defining pillars of the Ooni’s leadership ideology. Through initiatives such as IYES, the Ife Agropreneur Scheme and various start-up encouragement platforms, thousands of young people have benefitted from grants, training, mentorship and global exposure.
He reiterated Kabiyesi’s unwavering philosophy that youths are not only the leaders of tomorrow but critical stakeholders of today whose creativity must drive national development.
On culture, Olafare said the Ooni has successfully elevated Yoruba heritage into a global identity through international festivals, diaspora reconnection initiatives, academic partnerships and tourism development. He pointed out that the monarch’s cultural diplomacy has reconnected millions in Brazil, Cuba, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean to their Yoruba roots, making Ile-Ife once again a central reference point for the global Black world.
The spokesperson highlighted several transformative projects championed by the Ooni, including the Ojaja Economic Revolution, which features Ojaja Farms, Ojaja More Marts and a wide array of youth-driven enterprises in agriculture, renewable energy, manufacturing and technology. He emphasised that these initiatives have created jobs, stimulated local economies and demonstrated Kabiyesi’s commitment to indigenous wealth creation.
He also mentioned major strides in cultural revival, heritage preservation, tourism expansion and international advocacy, including the ongoing push for the repatriation of stolen artefacts from Western museums—a campaign that once drew a notable remark from the British Museum that the matter “could cause another world war.”
Olafare added that Ile-Ife has undergone significant infrastructural improvements under the Ooni’s leadership, ranging from palace expansion and renovation of heritage sites to the development of museums and the attraction of state-backed projects that have enhanced the cultural and historical profile of the ancient city.
In the area of education, he mentioned the provision of thousands of scholarships, STEM support programmes and the establishment of Ojaja University, which is envisioned as a continental hub for innovation, science and leadership training.
He also pointed out the monarch’s far-reaching humanitarian contributions, including women empowerment schemes, health care missions, social advocacy campaigns against domestic violence and child abuse, and relief interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic and other periods of hardship.
Olafare noted that the Ooni has emerged as a significant figure in national and international diplomacy, mediating during periods of political tension and engaging world leaders across the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, among others. He emphasised that most of these diplomatic efforts were self-funded, describing them as sacrifices undertaken for the advancement of the Black world.
Reflecting on the decade-long reign, Olafare said Kabiyesi has not only preserved the legacy of the ancestors but expanded it, setting a new benchmark for traditional leadership in contemporary times.
He added that as the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race and a prominent figure in national traditional rulers’ councils, the Ooni’s second decade promises even greater achievements built on unity, innovation, cultural pride and compassionate leadership.