Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona born 10 May 1934 is the Awujale (king) of the Ijebu Kingdom and the Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, a traditional state in Nigeria , having reigned since 1960. He is the son of Prince Rufai Adetona and Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (née Onashile) and represents the Anikinaiya ruling family.
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who had earlier been nominated along with five others was unanimously selected by the king makers in conformity with Section 11 of the Chiefs Law of 1957 applicable in Western Region . The then Governor signed the Instrument of Office approving Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as Awujale of Ijebuland . The formal coronation took place on Saturday, April 2, 1960.
At this Junction, it is pertinent to say Awujale of ijebuland is the Longest serving Oba in our South West region.
Since then Awujale has indeed used his influence and goodwill to attract a lot of meaningful developments into Ijebu Ode and in fact the entire Ijebuland since he ascended the throne.
Schools , banks , filling stations , workshops and a host of other thriving businesses – you would lose count of them all making your way into the city . Characterised by neatly laid out roads and streets linking each other , movement within and around the area is almost seamless.
Recently in an interview, Residents , who called on the state and federal governments to build more infrastructure like roads , drainage systems , potable water and low-cost housing estates , attributed most of the development the city had witnessed in recent times to the purposeful leadership of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland , Oba Sikiru Adetona. Under the monarch , and through the selfless contribution of prominent indigenes of the area , Ijebu Ode has made significant progress in almost every aspect , according to the people .
Let us not forget, The Ogun State Government has done well for this town over the years but it is the vision and efforts of the Awujale in particular that has mostly seen to the growth and continuous expansion of the area along economic and social lines .
Recently in an interview with Mr Segun Adekoya, during the 57th Coronation of Awujale said The Awujale has indeed used his influence and goodwill to attract a lot of meaningful developments into Ijebu Ode and in fact the entire Ijebuland since he ascended the throne saying under the Awujale , Ijebu Ode has witnessed tremendous peace – something he says has translated into economic and infrastructural growth in recent years.
“ The Awujale is a peace- loving man; he has brought that to play in the administration of not just Ijebu Ode but the entire Ijebu kingdom as a whole. This is something we are proud of and are not ready to trade for anything else in this world. The peace and calmness in this town can be felt by even visitors, ” he said .
The Ijebus are one of the most educated people in Nigeria , producing so many prominent persons in the country. At the moment , Ijebu-Ode has 39 public primary schools, 14 public junior secondary schools , 13 public senior secondary schools, 110 approved private nursery and primary schools and 22 approved private secondary schools in the town alone , according to Wikipedia , the online encyclopaedia . This is apart from the presence of some notable tertiary institutions in the community .
While the city might have attracted more migrants to itself as a result of its peaceful nature, economic and educational potentials, it is one of its biggest cultural ceremonies – the Ojude Oba Festival , that has grown its popularity tremendously in recent years, interestingly.
The annual celebration staged three days after the Muslim holiday – Eid - el-kabir – known in local parlance as Ileya, to honour the paramount ruler of the entire kingdom , has endeared and engraved Ijebu Ode into the hearts of millions around the world. Apart from Ijebu sons and daughters who travel from within and outside Nigeria to grace the occasion , countless others from different races and locations equally find their way into the ancient town to partake in the glamour and sparkle that has become the lot of the annual fanfare these days .
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