Prince Adebowale Owolabi Olufeko, a popular Legal Practitioner and the Chairman of Technology Essentials Limited has now officially made known his desire to contest for the Stool of the Awujalẹ of Ijebuland.
The stool became vacant with the passing of the last Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikirullai Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba 11, who joined his ancestors on July 13, 2025 at 90. The revered late monarch emanated from the Anikilaiya Ruling House.
Fusengbuwa Ruling House is the next in line to produce the next Awujale and many princes have signified interest in the stool, even as the state and Ijebu – Ode local governments have begun putting enabling environment in place to ensure a seamless selection of a successor – Awujale by the Ruling House and town’s kingmakers.
Olufeko, a distinguished Arbitrator and Mediator who belongs to several professional bodies and a Fellow of the International Bar Association is entering the race for the Awujale throne with panache.
This Prince with formidable international exposure declared for the Stool of the Awujalẹ recently at the gathering of the Jadiara Bubiade family in Ijebu Ode.
Speaking at the Jadiara Bubiade Family Meeting, Olufeko, a bona fide prince of Ijebu Ode noted that his joining numerous other princes of Ijebu Ode to contest for the respectable stool of the Awujale was not borne out of personal ambition, but from a sense of duty and service — a deep commitment to the continued peace, unity, and prosperity of Ijebu Ode.
Below is the declaration speech of Prince Olufeko at the Jadoara Bubiade family gathering:
Distinguished elders, respected members of the Jadiara Bubiade family, our noble women, vibrant youth, and beloved relatives both near and far — I greet you all in the spirit of peace, unity, and the enduring Ijebu heritage.
First and foremost, I give enormous credit and recognition to the remarkable leadership and royal accomplishments we, the Ijebus, enjoyed during the glorious reign of our late father, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, the Awujalẹ and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland. His reign brought honour, dignity, and progress to our land. May his noble soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, for his visible support and numerous development initiatives across Ijebuland and Ogun State as a whole. We pray that the Almighty God will continue to bless him with wisdom, capacity, and divine strength to steer the affairs of our dear State to greater heights.
Distinguished elders and family members, I have been called by elders, leaders, and well-meaning sons and daughters of Ijebuland, both at home and abroad, who have urged me — and given their blessings — to present myself as a candidate for the sacred Stool of the Awujalẹ of Ijebuland.
This call is not born out of personal ambition, but from a sense of duty and service — a deep commitment to the continued peace, unity, and prosperity of our land. After much reflection, prayer, and consultation, I have accepted this call with humility and gratitude to God.
Like our family slogan rightly declares, I possess the qualities, skills, and experience to drive development across Ijebuland; to maintain peace and security; and to uplift our people through inclusive leadership and modern vision.
Through my professional journey, I have been privileged to serve with distinction as a Legal Practitioner, Arbitrator, and Mediator, and I currently serve as the Chairman of Technology Essentials Limited. I worked in the United Kingdom before returning home to Nigeria, where I have continued to contribute to national growth and the advancement of the legal and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) industry.
These experiences — both international and local — have prepared me to bring excellence, fairness, and vision to traditional leadership. They have shaped in me the discipline, diplomacy, and foresight required to lead a people as proud and accomplished as the Ijebu nation.
If, by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am found worthy of this sacred stool, I pledge to:
1. Uphold the dignity and unity of Ijebuland, building on the enviable legacy of our late father, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
2. Promote peace, security, and good governance, ensuring that every Ijebu son and daughter feels safe and proud of our heritage.
3. Empower our youth through mentorship, education, and enterprise — leveraging my national and international networks to attract capital, industry, and innovation into Ijebuland.
4. Strengthen our culture and tradition, particularly the world-renowned Ojude Oba Festival, by repositioning it to attract tourism, global partnerships, and sustainable cultural development.
5. Support the realization of Ijebu State, ensuring that it stands as a beacon of pride, good governance, and progress for all Ijebus at home and abroad.
My aspiration is to serve — not to rule; to preserve — not to change; to build upon the foundation laid by our illustrious ancestors and the visionary Obas who came before us.
Therefore, before you, my family — my root, my foundation, my first circle of strength — I stand today to humbly and proudly declare:
I, Mr. Adebowale Owolabi Olufeko, a Legal Practitioner, Arbitrator, Mediator, and Chairman of Technology Essentials Limited, hereby declare my intention to contest for the Stool of the Awujalẹ of Ijebuland.
I seek your blessings, your prayers, and your unflinching support as we embark on this sacred journey — to revamp our traditions, reposition our heritage, and continue to make Ijebuland the pride of the Yoruba nation and of Nigeria as a whole.
May the Almighty God bless our family, guide our decisions, and grant Ijebuland continued peace, prosperity, and unity.
Thank you all, and may this gathering bring blessings to every home represented here.
Prince Adebowale Owolabi Olufeko LL.B(Hons), BL, LL.M (Soton), FCIArb, FIBA, FICIArb
Omo Oba Jadiara,
Omo Bubiade,
Omo Bubiyemi ju owo amuna,
Omo O’ solori Se Omoba, Omo Olowo Joye Meji po,
Omo Olowo Joba Meji, Omo Ojoye k’oye wun ni je,
Oje Dagburewe tan,
Otun je Awujale,
Omo suku saya re to fi esiwu gbadi,
A i saya re k o fi ijara gbadi penpen lona Ejirin,
Dansaki e … OMO OBA JADIARA.
