New Olu of Ifo Receives Staff of Office

The Ogun State Government yesterday formally presented the staff of office to His Royal Majesty Oba Olumide Atanda Osunsina as the Olu of Ifo, sealing his recognition as traditional ruler of Ifo land.

Bearing the royal title Òsómékùn I, the new monarch succeeds the late Oba Samuel Atanda Oladipo Ayerowunwi. The ceremony on Friday, 13 November 2026, marked the culmination of the customary selection process and administrative requirements that followed the late Oba’s passage.

Oba Osunsina’s emergence as the third Olu of Ifoland since the stool’s establishment traces back to a unanimous decision by the five accredited kingmakers earlier this year. The process, supervised by local government and state chieftaincy officials, saw him selected from among several contenders. The Ogun State Government subsequently gazetted and approved his appointment in September, after which he relinquished earlier chieftaincy titles, including Otunba and Asiwaju Bobagunwa of Egbaland, in line with tradition.

Before ascending the throne, Oba Osunsina built a substantial career in real estate. He founded Megamound Investment Limited in 1992 and grew it into a prominent property development firm. The company’s portfolio includes residential and commercial projects such as Carlton Gate, Lekki County Homes, King’s Court and Greater Lagos County Apartments, among others. His professional background in land development, construction and related ventures is widely viewed as an asset for a community experiencing rapid urban expansion on the Lagos-Ogun corridor.

Beyond business, the monarch has maintained a long-standing involvement in community development through the Olumide Osunsina Foundation. The foundation has supported scholarships, technology hubs, vocational and skills training programmes, and medical outreach initiatives focused on Ifo land. These efforts are expected to gain greater prominence under his reign.

Speaking after receiving the staff of office, Oba Osunsina emphasised the weight of the recognition and his commitment to the community.

“A staff of office is not given lightly, and I do not receive it lightly,” he said. “It is the government’s confirmation of what the kingmakers already know; that I built Megamound from nothing, and I will hold this throne, and everyone around it, to the same standard I have always held myself to. From now on, it’s Ifo first.”

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Traditional rulers in Ogun State serve as custodians of culture and intermediaries between communities and government institutions. Ifo’s location near Lagos places it within a zone of significant population growth, commercial activity and infrastructure pressure.

Residents and stakeholders have expressed hopes that the new Olu’s private-sector experience and philanthropic record will translate into stronger focus on local development, education, skills acquisition and social welfare while preserving the customs of the land.

The presentation of the staff of office completes the formal process of recognition. Oba Olumide Atanda Osunsina, Òsómékùn I, now assumes full responsibility as Olu of Ifo land.