Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, is a Nigerian monarch. He is the 47th and current

traditional ruler A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

Akure Kingdom The Akure Kingdom is a traditional state with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. It is the successor to an ancient Yoruba city state of the same name. The ruler bears the title "Deji of Akure". Location Akure is located in southwestern ...

, a

traditional state Traditional authority is a form of leadership in which the authority of an organization or a regime is largely tied to tradition or custom. The main reason for the given state of affairs is that " things have always been that way".Reinhard Bendi ...

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as at the 2006 population census. History Pre 1914 Rock engravings dating back to the Mesolithic period, hav ...

, the Ondo State capital. He was proclaimed Deji of Akure in 2015, taking the regnal name Odundun II and succeeding the deceased Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida.

Early life

Prince Patrick Bankole "Kole" Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi was born on December 28, 1956, in the nearby Akure settlement of Ayede-Ogbese, to the Baale, the Alayere of Ayede-Ogbese, Prince Ogunlade Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo and Princess Omowunmi Aladetoyinbo (née Adedipe) (1926-2018), a member of the notable Adedipe family that bear the Elemo chieftaincy title in Akure. He is the third of ten children. He started his elementary education at St. Patrick School, Aponmu Akure. He then proceeded t
Oyemekun Grammar School Akure
where he received his secondary school certificate (SSCE). He graduated as an Architect from

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...

in Miami, Florida.

Professional career

He is a prominent member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. He is also one of the founding members of Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON). Oba Aladetoyinbo has a master's degree from Morgan State University in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

, USA. He has given public lectures in higher institutions like Obafemi Awolowo University and Adekunle Ajasin University regarding the role of youth in governance.

Selection and coronation

Oba Aladetoyinbo was selected from the Osupa royal family of Akure, amongst indigenes who were also heirs to the throne on 17 June 2015. He received his staff of office on 17 July 2015. His era has been described as an ‘Epoch of Peace'. Oba Aladetoyinbo is the spiritual leader of the Akure people now saddled with the responsibility of making supplications to God and the Òrìṣà on behalf of his clan and the world at large during annual festivals such as the Ogun festival and the Ulefunta.

Personal life

Oba Odundun II is the current head of the Osupa/Odundun Royal Family, one of the cadet branches of the Royal House of Asodeboyede. The other branch is the Ojijigogun Royal Family. Both branches are descended from two of Oba Arakale's children. Like many African kings, Odundun II is polygamous and has at least 4 wives. He has at least 5 children. He is a direct male-line great-grandson of Oba

Odundun I Odundun I, otherwise known as Ọ̀dúndún asòdedẹ̀rọ̀ (Yoruba: ''Aládélúsì Oṣùpá Aṣọdẹ́bóyèdé''; c. 1835 - 1890) was a Yoruba monarch. He ruled the Akure Kingdom from 1882 until 1890. His lineal descendants are today k ...

, great-great grandson of Oba

Osupa I Osupa I, otherwise known as Òṣùpá t'Àdó là Ogiso Otolu Apaara, (Adesoro; c. 1776-1846) was a Yoruba monarch. He ruled the Akure Kingdom from 1834 until 1846. His lineal descendants are today known as the House of Osupa. They serve as one ...

, and a 3rd great-grandson of Oba Arakale. His great-grandfather's first cousin (his first cousin thrice removed) was Oba

Adesida I Adesida I (Olofinlade Afunbiowo Ojijigogun Asodeboyede; c. 1860 – 1957) was a Nigerian monarch. He ruled the Akure Kingdom from June 22, 1897 until 1957. His lineal descendants are today known as the House of Adesida, a part of the House of Oj ...

. He is a third cousin once removed of musician

King Sunny Ade King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

. He is also a distant relative of the Royal House of Benin through his 5th great-grandfather, Oba Akengbuda, a king of the Benin Empire, and thus a sixth cousin of Oba

Ewuare II Ewuare II (born 20 October 1953) was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300. Education Eheneden Erediauwa, as he was ...

, the current Oba of Benin. Through his mother, Princess Omowunmi Aladetoyinbo (née Adedipe), he is related to the notable Adedipe family of Akure, who have held the Elemo chieftaincy for over 2 centuries. His maternal grandfather was Okira Adedipe, who was a son of Chief Adedipe Oporua Atoosin (1819-1916). Through this same Adedipe family, he is also a second cousin of Chief Olu Falae. He is a first cousin of the current Elemo of Akure, Chief Olusegun Okira (Adedipe VI). Through the mother of his great-grandfather Adedipe Oporua Atoosin, he also has roots in the Yoruba town of

Ilara-Mokin Ilara-Mokin () is an Ekiti town located in a central part of Ifedore local government of Ondo State. Ilara-Mokin is about 12 km from Ondo state capital, and has Ipogun, Ipinsa, Ikota, Ibule-Soro and Ero as neighbouring towns. History ...

. Odundun II is also a third great grandson of Oba Arakale through his maternal line, and Odundun II's parents were fourth cousins. He is the first descendant of the Adedipe family to be a King of Akure. He married his first wife Olori Olajumoke Aladetoyinbo (1958-) in 1986. Her father is from

Imo state Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its n ...

and her mother is from the Yoruba town of

Idanre Idanre is a Local Government Area and historic town in Ondo State, Nigeria. The town is located at the foot of the scenic Idanre Hill which is of unique cultural and environmental significance, and attracts many tourists. The town is about sout ...

. They have 3 children. His second wife is Olori Abimbola "Bimbo" Omosalewa Aladetoyinbo (née Akintide). She herself is a great-granddaughter of Oba

, a great-great-great granddaughter of Oba Arakale, and thus a fourth cousin of her husband, Oba Odundun II. His younger wives are Olori Kemisola Aladetoyinbo, Olori Oluwafunmilayo "Funmilayo" Titilayo Aladetoyinbo, and Olori Adetutu "Tutu" Aladetoyinbo. They married Oba Odundun II after he became king. Olori Funmilayo is known for her active community engagement in Akure and passed out COVID relief materials to people in Akure.

Awards

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honor of Commander Of The Order Of The Fedral Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi 1956 births Living people Florida State University alumni Morgan State University alumni Nigerian traditional rulers Yoruba monarchs People from Ondo State