Oluwo: A visionary king at 50

BORN on 21 June, 1967 to the family of the late Prince Kola Akanbi of Molasan Compound, Gbaase Ruling House, Iwo, Osun State, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, had his elementary education at Omolewa Nursery and Primary School, Oritamefa, Ibadan, Oyo State, between 1972 and 1978. He attended Iwo Grammar School, Araromi, Iwo, between 1978and 1982 and later, Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Idi-Ape, Ibadan, where he passed out in flying colours in 1983.

Oba Akanbi obtained an Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, between 1985 and 1987, Certificate in Cybis and Axis system, Convergys Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada in 2001-2005, Seismic Certificate in Operation, Oil and Gas Processing Facilities in 2005. In 2009, then Prince Adewale Akanbi bagged a BSc. in Business Administration from George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The young prince worked as a Data Processor, Bio-skin GMBH in Hamburg, Germany (1996-2005), International Development Analyst (Oxfam Canada): travelled to help war and disaster-stricken countries around the world by supplying and supporting refugees with relief materials. He also worked as Associate Supervisor, Purdy Wharf Towers, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Before his ascension to the throne, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Prince Enterprises, Toronto Ontario, Canada, Director and Founder of People Against Loneliness Inc., Waterson Road, Toronto Ontario, Canada, West Africa Coordinator (Karcher Group Future Tech) and is presently working on supply of future technology on peace keeping force to the Ministry of Defence.

Iwo had been feeling his impact before he ascended to the throne as he was involved in some developmental projects in Iwo and environs.

Notable among his contributions are the patching of potholes on Iwo township major roads, repair of Odo-Oba culvert and giving financial assistance to some students from Iwo land.

He is a member of some Iwo development groups like Iwo Land Development Coalition, Greater Iwo Land, among many others.

On Monday, 9 November, 2015, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi was installed as the 16th Oluwo of Iwo Empire and the coronation was performed on Saturday, 16 January, 2016 by the Osun State governor, Abdul-Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

His uniqueness, innovation, glamour and wide acceptance have been unprecedented. After ascending to the throne of his forefathers, he has continued with patching of potholes on Iwo township major roads like Bowen, Hospital and Araromi. The Oluwo also single-handedly repaired and patched the roads from Iwo to Osogbo.

His first year was replete with remarkable, innovative achievements, some unprecedented. He distributed laptop computers to many tertiary institutions in Iwo and State of Osun in general. He brought hospital equipment from Canada to upgrade the service and status of Iwo State Hospital.

Quite unexpectedly, so early after his enthronement, the Oluwo initiated what he tagged “Oluwo Food and Clothing Bank.” Here, meals are given to the underprivileged – widows, orphans – for three days in a week. The feeding programme was designed to identify with the poor, the hitherto marginalised, loathed and ignored segment of the society. The Oluwo brainstormed on how they, the underprivileged, could be reconnected to the society. The meal is served every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week. The Oluwo of Iwo has been defending, protecting and adding glamour to Yoruba norms and tradition. Of course, assembled clothing, shoes and related goodies were not left out. The privileged ones in the community made a huge response by donated voluntarily. The philosophy behind the Oluwo as an institution is service to humanity. This translates to the fact that once someone becomes the Oluwo, the totality of his life is about service to the people and humanity in general. The Oluwo has no life of his own, day and night. He is for service of the Yoruba race, nay, humanity. Kabiyesi’s major concern is putting smile on people’s faces, taking care of the present so they can be better through healthcare, food and infrastructure. Oba Akanbi says he worships God through service to humanity. The Oluwo is a devout Muslim who does not discriminate against any other faiths. He treats all with justice, equity and fairness. Those who describe him as controversial must remember that no great person, no cerebral mind, has not earned his own share of imperfection. Imperfection is human and human is imperfection.

We make bold to say that Oba Akanbi has worked assiduously and tirelessly with the state and federal governments to lift the economy of the country and the tradition of Iwo. We pray Almighty Allah to continue to guide and direct our dynamic, prodigious, patriotic, visionary beacon, the man of the moment who has worked and walked untold slippery terrains and trappings triumphantly.

Happy 50th birthday, Kabiyesi.

Professor (Prince) Wasiu Alagbe Gbolagade is the Secretary in charge of Oluwo’s 50th birthday celebrations.

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