Ile Ife, Osun – Governor Ademola Adeleke has commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on the 10th anniversary of his coronation, praising his efforts in reviving Yoruba culture and tradition.
Speaking during the anniversary celebrations, Governor Adeleke said, “The last one decade has witnessed dramatic revival of tradition and culture of Yoruba people. Our father, the Ooni of Ife, is leading the charge with elegance. His Imperial Majesty brought a touch of class to royalty and rebranded our tradition, making the Yoruba nation proud across the world.”
He described the Ooni as “a royal father with strong economic footing and limitless capacity for local and global networking, changing the narration of traditional rulership.”
Governor Adeleke highlighted the government’s support for the Ooni’s vision, stating, “On this, our government has a strong partner in our royal father as we implement the same vision of an upgraded cultural capital of the Yoruba people. We have embarked on infrastructure upgrades across Ile Ife, with 14 roads completed and several others ongoing. The first-ever flyover bridge in this cradle of Yoruba nation is nearing completion.”
The governor also addressed abandoned projects in the city, noting that plans were underway to revive them in partnership with the Federal Government. “We are committed to ensuring that Ile Ife remains a beacon of culture and tourism. A cultural tourism plan is ongoing to expand and strengthen Ile Ife’s cultural assets, with the goal of tripling tourist inflow into this traditional home of all Yoruba people,” he said.
In addition, Governor Adeleke outlined other state achievements, including the completion of over 250 kilometers of roads, rehabilitation of more than 200 health centers, upgrade of over 100 schools, and the settlement of almost 100 billion naira in pension and salary arrears. “These milestones reflect our commitment to social and economic development, and we appreciate Kabiyesi for his counselling and moral support in this journey,” he added.
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s pledge: “As you celebrate this 10th anniversary on the throne, we reaffirm our support for traditional institutions under your leadership. Our royal fathers will always have maximum support from this administration.”
