A high-level delegation representing the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has held strategic talks with top government officials in California, United States, aimed at advancing transportation reform and driving sustainable economic development in Ile-Ife.
The meeting, held in Sacramento, brought together representatives from the Ooni’s Palace and the California State Government. The Ooni’s delegation was led by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Palace, while the host delegation was headed by Toks Omishakin, Secretary of Transportation for California.
Discussions centred primarily on transforming Ile-Ife’s urban transport system. Presenting the monarch’s vision, Olafare outlined plans for a phased transition away from commercial motorcycle operations (popularly known as okada) toward a safer, more structured tricycle-based transport model. The proposal is designed to improve mobility, enhance public safety, and introduce a more regulated framework for urban transportation within the ancient city.
To support this transition, the delegation sought technical expertise, policy guidance, and capacity-building collaboration from California, leveraging the state’s experience in transport planning and infrastructure development.
In response, Omishakin welcomed the initiative and expressed openness to sustained engagement. He highlighted California’s existing partnerships with Nigerian institutions, particularly in Lagos State, covering transportation systems, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure development.
Omishakin further noted his personal involvement in multiple official visits to Nigeria over the past four years, fostering collaboration with key agencies including state ministries and diaspora-focused institutions. He also referenced a recent legislative move by the California State Assembly to strengthen ties between California, Lagos State, and Sacramento under a sister-state framework promoting trade, mobility, climate action, and cultural exchange.
Beyond transportation, the dialogue expanded to broader economic cooperation. The Ooni’s delegation advocated for Ile-Ife’s inclusion in similar international partnership arrangements, citing the city’s global cultural relevance and its existing sister-city relationships with Brazilian municipalities such as Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.
Olafare underscored Ile-Ife’s historic status as the cradle of Yoruba civilization and its growing appeal as a destination for cultural tourism, investment, and international collaboration.
In his remarks, Omishakin reaffirmed California’s commitment to strengthening ties with African partners and supporting initiatives that advance sustainable development and cross-border cooperation.
A native of Ile-Ife, Omishakin is a seasoned transportation expert. Before his appointment in 2019 by Gavin Newsom as Director of Transportation, and later, in 2022, as Cabinet Secretary of Transportation, he served for eight years as Deputy Commissioner for Planning in the transportation sector of Tennessee. He currently oversees a multibillion-dollar transportation portfolio in California, positioning him as a key figure in advancing global transport partnerships.
The engagement marks a significant step in Ile-Ife’s ongoing efforts to build international alliances that support infrastructure modernization, economic growth, and cultural diplomacy on a global scale.
