Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

monarch. He is the 47th and current traditional ruler of

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 southwester ...

, a traditional state in

Akure Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. Its current population is estimated at 774,000.Ondo State Ondo () is a States of Nigeria, state in Points of the compass, southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State (Nigeria), Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast fo ...

capital. He was proclaimed Deji of Akure in 2015, taking the

regnal name A regnal name, regnant name, or reign name is the name used by monarchs and popes during their reigns and subsequently, historically. Since ancient times, some monarchs have chosen to use a different name from their original name when they accede ...

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 to 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 or Florida State) is a Public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the s ...

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

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 Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a Public university, public historically black colleges and universities, historically black research university in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically bla ...

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, USA. He has given public lectures in higher institutions like

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal university in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, which w ...

and

Adekunle Ajasin University Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) is a public university owned and operated by the government of Ondo State, Nigeria. The university is located in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. History Adekunle Ajasin University was esta ...

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 ...

, great-great grandson of Oba

Osupa I Osupa I, (Adesoro Olokunwolu; c. 1776/1780–1846) 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 of Akure's two legally recognized royal fa ...

, 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 a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

. 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 Chieftain, Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae (born 21 September 1938), is a Nigerian banker, administrator and politician who was secretary to the military government of Ibrahim Babangida from January 1986 to December 1990, and briefly the Finance Min ...

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

. 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 (born 1958) in 1986. Her father is from

Imo state 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 name from the Imo R ...

and her mother is from the Yoruba town of

Idanre Idanre town known previously as Ufẹ̀ Òkè is a historic town in Ondo State, and the headquarters of the Idanre Local Government Area which carries its name. The town is located at the foot of the scenic Idanre Hill which is of unique cultural ...

. 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 Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President

Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian army major general, he was the military head of state of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 Augu ...

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