Oba Rashidi Ladoja Gets Official Approval as 44th Olubadan of Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has officially approved the nomination of High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, setting the stage for a historic coronation scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025, at the iconic Mapo Hall in Ibadan. The approval came after thorough consultations with the Olubadan-in-Council, the traditional kingmakers of Ibadan.

Oba Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, will succeed the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who passed away on July 7, 2025, aged 90. The late monarch’s death left the revered throne vacant, triggering the nomination and approval process for a successor.

Ahead of his coronation, Oba Ladoja engaged in significant preparatory activities, including a closed-door meeting with the kingmakers at his residence in Bodija and a meeting with a state delegation to finalize arrangements for the event. This coronation is anticipated to attract dignitaries from across Nigeria and symbolically ushers in a new era of traditional leadership for Ibadan.

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As a respected statesman and traditional leader, Oba Ladoja’s elevation to the throne is widely seen as a unifying development for the people of Ibadanland, blending his political experience and age-old customary authority.

The upcoming ceremony at Mapo Hall, a historic venue for successive Olubadans, promises to be a landmark event in the history of Ibadan.

This approval and upcoming coronation mark a significant moment not only for Ibadan but for Oyo State and the broader Yoruba cultural heritage.