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Press Release on Beaded Crown Obas’s Maiden Meeting in Ogbomoso Held At Soun’s Palace on Thursday, April 11, 2024. 1. Obas in the five local government areas of Ogbomoso zone held the maiden meeting of beaded crown Obas on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso. 2. The meeting which was at the instance of Soun, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, was attended by 20 Obas out of 23 invited. 3. It was a highly successful and fruitful meeting.The atmosphere was that of cordiality and relationship building. The major purpose of the meeting was familiarization among the beaded crown Obas in the zone. You know we have a new Soun, who is passionately desirous of changing the narrative so there can be all round developments in the zone. 4. His Majesty the Soun also took advantage of the gathering to share his 25 year development plan which is meant to complement the Oyo State government, with the other traditional rulers. The meeting was to set agenda for the zone. 5. The meeting also deliberated on bringing to light the various challenges bedeviling the zone and how to proffer solutions in order to engender progress and development. 6. The Kabiyesi invited them as brother Obas, not in any other capacity. It is to reinforce that their destinies are joined together and must explore development together and he accorded them that reverence. 7. Oba Olaoye pointed out there was need to bring back the lost love and harmony among traditional rulers and royal houses in the zone in the spirit of ‘Ka fi ogbo kan ogbo.’ Ogbomoso is a land of harmony, and that we have to restore. 8. Kabiyesi assured them he won’t tamper with the domain or land of anyone. Every Oba has his domain which he said is sacrosanct. We can only collaborate on development, he said. 9. Everybody is happy with the new trend brokered and for being part of the historic meeting. Another one will hold in three months time. 10. One of the Obas who attended the meeting commended the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for choosing the person of Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye as the Soun of Ogbomosoland. They unanimously agreed to work together with Governor Makinde for a new Oyo State that he envisioned. 11. Traditional rulers who attended the meeting are His Imperial Majesty, Soun of Ogbomosoland; His Royal Majesty, Aale Okelerin; High Chief Areago of Ogbomosoland; and High Chief Ikolaba of Ogbomosoland. 12. His Royal Majesty, Onisapa of Isapa; His Royal Highness, Onilagbedu of Lagbedu, Ogbomoso; and Olodanbon of Odanbon in Ogbomoso South. 13. His Royal Majesty, Alajaawa of Ajaawa; His Royal Highness, Olotamokun of Otamokun; His Royal Highness, Oluwoate of Iwo Ate; His Royal Highness Olopete of Opete; and His Royal Highness Olubere of Ibere, Ogo Oluwa L. G.. 14. His Royal Majesty, Oloolo of Oolo; His Royal Highness, Olobamo of Obamo; and His Royal Highness, Alara of Fapote. 15. His Royal Majesty, Oloko of Oko; His Royal Majesty, Onijabata of Jabata; and His Royal Majesty, Alapa of Okin Apa Signed: Rev’d Peter Olaleye Coordinating Assistant to Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III

Press release The Acting Vice Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Oyo, state, Professor Rasaq Olatunde ROM Kalilu, has expressed profound gratitude to the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye for linking the institution with a university in the United States of America for collaboration and also for creating prospect for funding via grant. Professor Kalilu, according to a press release by Rev’d Peter Olaleye, Coordinating Assistant to Oba Olaoye, made this disclosure during a familiarization visit of the monarch to LAUTECH Monday. Kalilu, a frontliner in the contest for the appointment of substantive vice chancellor for the institution, recalled how the monarch threw down a gauntlet to him the first time they met disclosing the Oba underlined emphatically he did not expect LAUTECH to be complacent with being number one state university but to step higher and rub shoulders with the best in the world. “Our revered traditional ruler has set rolling a paradigm shift in the university as His Majesty has connected us with a United States of America’s institution towards facilitating grant for us for development. “Kabiyesi told me that he would never be satisfied with the university topping the table of state’s universities, that he would rather be looking forward to a time when LAUTECH will be operating like, and competing with the best universities at the international stage.” He therefore lauded the Oba for not only throwing down a challenge but that he had worked to support the institution in the drive to meet up. The Professor of Art and Art History enthused further Kabiyesi had fulfilled a promise by “connecting us with the who’s who in the US – that is, bodies that can help to attract grants.” He enthused the university will be looking forward for the materialization of the prospective grant support. In response, Oba Olaoye appreciated Prof Kalilu and his management team, stressing LAUTECH is “a pride of Ogbomoso and Oyo state.” The paramount ruler also took time to commend the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for “his sacrifice which helped to bring the institution back to life.” Oba Olaoye charged the VC and his team to put in immense efforts to make the university renown in certain chosen fields as it is obtained in leading international institutions noting that would assist to attract foreign grants. He observed the school already had a track record, and so averred it could be the springboard for attracting collaborations nationally and internationally if the push is made strategically. Pledging 100 percent support, Oba Olaoye urged the management to always carry the alumni along to ensure they give back substantially, individually and collectively, to their alma mater, revealing most foreign universities have alumni members serving as institutions’ secretaries. The monarch also took time to take a look at some facilities in the school for assessment and to further see how he can collaborate with the institution. He was at the College of Health Sciences to inspect some new laboratories and a TETFUND-executed hostel.

Image caption: Aerial view of Ogbomoso from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital axis (Photo credit – Damexjon It begins! Journey to actualize Oba Ghandi’s 25yr devpt plan for new Ogbomoso   Femi OGUNLANA   The much vaunted 25 -year development plan for Ogbomosoland articulated by the Soun, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, has finally taken off in a strong manner, with the inauguration of the Committee on Culture and Tourism on Saturday at the Aafin Ogbomoso. The goal is to build her up into a smart city and a choice destination. Advertisement The 15 – man committee, first of about 15 to be constituted, to drive the 25-year development plan, is headed by Prince Williams Adeleye, a former Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media. Chief Executive Officer of Akanni Bookstores, Ogbomoso, and a traditionalist, Dr Oladejo Akanni, is co-chairman.   Some other members of the committee are Mr. Afolabi Olaniran (a retired Director, Research and Quality Assurance, National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB), and currently Chairman Governing Board, Federal Government College Ogbomoso); Hon Segun Dokun Odebunmi; Bashorun Akinwole Akinwale; Prince Dotun Oyelade; Hon Mrs. Bisi Oluranti Michael; Olori Nike Olugbodi; Mr. Kareem Adebayo; Mrs Fisayo Alabi; Engineer Tunde Ige; Prince Samuel Oyebamiji Oyedeji; Mrs Janet Akintoyinbo; and Mrs Victoria Mosun Olojede. Oba Ghandi Olaoye with members of the committee at the palace  Slated for December 2024, the carnival’s aims include cultural inclusivity, innovation and development targeted at making Ogbomoso a tourist destination.   Noting the ancient city is a haven of deep and rich spiritual and cultural heritage the Oba declared he envisioned the carnival will foster unity among “the great and small, Muslims and Christians and everyone else.”   The festivities, he further underlined, “will honour some of the community’s distinctive qualities, including its taste in food, music, costumes, and fashion, emphasizing, “This will pave the way for the community to come together and show unity, and also serve as a means of putting the people at the centre of Ogbomosoland’s development, culture, and social atmosphere.” Advertisement The monarch stressed the carnival is essential to his “25 – year vision plan, which aims to draw in foreign and local investors to transform Ogbomosoland into a model city.”   The carnival, to be week long, he informed, would also advance “socio-economic development, promote cultural enrichment and attract local and foreign investment into the community,” therefore charging the committee to fashion out modalities to bring about the fulfillment of its objectives.   He listed the four-fold objective to include uplifting socio-economic activities in the community; showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage through diverse cultural performance; creating opportunities for local businesses, entrepreneurship and innovations to network, collaborate and invest in the community’s growth and development; and enhancing Ogbomoso’s visibility and reputation as a vibrant and desirable destination for tourism, investment and cultural exchange.   Some of the programmes lined up are musical concerts; cultural workshops and exhibitions involving traditional arts and crafts that will facilitate visitors’ engagement with local artisans, art displays on Ogbomoso’s history, heritage and traditions; and entrepreneurship cum innovation fair through panel discussions and seminars, daily masquerade performances etc. Advertisement Also, the carnival will embody sports and recreational activities; educational summit; community service by volunteers, golf tournament, fireworks and concert that will feature local and international artistes.   Lauding the initiative, the committee chairman, Adeleye, observed the rich cultural heritage of Ogbomoso, “if fully harnessed, has the potential to transform the socio-economic landscape of the city.”   This is as he said, “There is virtually no family compound in Ogbomosoland, from my little research, that has no unique tradition – be it Egungun; deity, ijala, Oroo, etc. Even Soun’s palace is a repository of a tourist site. HIM Ghandi Olaoye – King of Vision “In the creative industry, Ogbomoso men and women, old and young, are making their marks, making Ogbomoso proud in the money spinning industry. Talk of Baba Lere Paimo (Ogbori elemoso) Kolawole Ajeyemi, Kunle Afolabi, 9ce, Laolu Gbenjo, Dunsin Oyekan to mention a few, are notable faces in the Nigerian creative industry. Our food, amala and gbegiri, eko yangan (Pap), bean snacks (akara Ogbomoso) as well as our unique agricultural products (mangoro Ogbomoso, cassava and cashew) are much sought after by people from other towns and cities across the country and in the diaspora.”   He expressed confidence the carnival would attract local and foreign investors and translate Ogbomosoland’s abundant cultural heritage into money spinning venture through creation of jobs.   Canvassing support, he assured the committee would work hard to sustain the festival and get it enlisted in the federal government’s calendar of festivals and UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage, as he added, “We must do whatever it takes to make Ogbomosoland a tourist destination for domestic and international tourists alike.”   He assured his committee is determined “to work assiduously for the success of the first Ogbomoso culture and tourism festival. We shall give our all, leveraging on our expertise, contacts with relevant culture and tourism institutions in Nigeria, private sector, and deploy available resources to make this event memorable.”