Makinde, Wife Honored as Aare and Yeye Aare Omoluabi of Akure Kingdom

AKURE, ONDO STATE – Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, and his wife, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, were on Friday, July 18, 2025, conferred with the prestigious chieftaincy titles of Aare Omoluabi and Yeye Aare Omoluabi of Akure Kingdom. The conferment was performed by His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi CFR, the Deji of Akure Kingdom, as part of the monarch’s 10th anniversary celebrations on the throne.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Makinde expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating it was a call to further contribute to the upliftment of Akure Kingdom. He acknowledged his familial ties to Akure, recalling his presence in the city as a 10-year-old in 1977, and expressed appreciation for being recognized as “one of their own.”

Governor Makinde pledged his commitment to the progress of the kingdom, specifically promising to contribute towards the completion of the Akure Town Hall and the modernization of the Akure Palace. He emphasized that his support would make a significant difference in the celebration of the Deji’s 10th coronation anniversary.

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Keynote Address at Deji’s 10th Anniversary Colloquium
Prior to the chieftaincy conferment, Governor Makinde delivered the keynote address at a colloquium held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). The colloquium, titled “The Role of Nigeria’s Traditional Institutions in Nation Building: Impediments, Impacts, and Prospects,” was a central event in the Deji’s anniversary celebrations.

During his address, Governor Makinde advocated for the full integration of traditional institutions into Nigeria’s development systems. He described these institutions as “enduring pillars of identity, legitimacy, and communal cohesion,” stressing their vital role in community policing, conflict resolution, and overall nation-building. He called for reforms in legal frameworks to clarify the roles and rights of traditional councils and urged stronger partnerships between traditional and modern institutions for strategic governance.

The event, which saw the presence of numerous dignitaries from across the country, highlighted the ongoing discourse surrounding the relevance and influence of traditional rulers in contemporary Nigerian society.