The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, on Thursday received Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the historic Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Dr. Tijani’s visit followed his lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, where he addressed the critical role of academic institutions in driving technological advancement, innovation and sustainable national development. The engagement, he noted, further reinforced the importance of collaboration between government, academia and cultural institutions in shaping Nigeria’s future.
Speaking during the palace visit, the Minister described OAU as a distinctive centre of excellence, endowed with intellectual depth and human capacity capable of stimulating prosperity in Ile-Ife and contributing meaningfully to national growth. He observed that the university’s location in Ile-Ife — widely regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation — was deeply symbolic, reflecting the city’s enduring legacy of knowledge, culture and leadership.
Dr. Tijani added that his interaction with the university community and his audience with the Ooni had strengthened his commitment to delivering impactful reforms and innovations under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He described the visit to the Ooni’s Palace as his first, noting that he considered it a rare privilege to receive royal counsel and blessings for both his personal service and the progress of the nation.
In his response, the Ooni of Ife, who also serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC) and Permanent Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), warmly welcomed the Minister. The monarch commended Dr. Tijani for what he described as exemplary Omoluabi values, expressing confidence in his capacity to contribute positively to Nigeria’s development agenda.
The Ooni offered prayers for the Minister’s continued success in office and extended royal blessings to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, praying for divine wisdom, strength and guidance for the nation’s leadership at this critical period.
The visit concluded on a symbolic note with the presentation of a sacred Ife artefact to Dr. Tijani by the Ooni, signifying royal blessings, cultural endorsement and support for his service to Nigeria.