Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland is dead.
He reportedly joined his ancestors on Monday morning, July 7.
The Ibadan monarch passed away barely one year after he ascended the throne of his forefathers.
Recall that Oba Olakulehin celebrated his 90th birthday two days ago.
Here are 12 things about Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland you probably don’t know:
1. Akinloye Olalere Owolabi Olakulehin was born on July 5, 1935, to the family of Pa Ishola-Okin Owolabi and Madam Adunola Aweni Ope Ajilaran Omoyoade Owolabi in Okugbaja village, Ita Baale near Akanran in present day Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria.
2. He was the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan.
3. He commenced his primary school education at St James Primary School, Oke Akaran, Islamic School, Odoiye, but eventually finished at St Peter Primary School, Aremo, Ibadan.
4. After graduating from primary school, Olakulehin taught briefly as a primary school teacher at Wakajaiye in the Akobo area of Ibadan and subsequently gained admission to Yaba Technical Institute for vocational study in printing and artwork.
5. In 1959, Owolabi Olakulehin commenced his career at the Ministry of Works, Western Region Government in Ibadan, entering as a third-class clerk. Simultaneously, he gained admission to the Yaba College of Technology to pursue his higher studies where he eventually obtained his Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Building.
6. In 1970, through a Direct Short Service Commission, he enlisted in the Nigerian Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, serving in the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers. He subsequently undertook diverse roles and assignments throughout the nation, steadily advancing to the rank of Major.
7. During his tenure, he assumed various leadership positions, including that of Commanding Officer of the Army Maintenance Regiment in Jos, Kaduna, and Lagos. He retired as a major on October 1,1979.
8. After retiring from the army, Olakulehin ventured into entrepreneurial ventures, through FAKOL Nigeria Ltd, a construction contracting firm, Olakulehin Press, (later rebranded as Solid Prints) and FAKOL Bakery in the city of Ibadan.
9. Like his predecessor, Owolabi Olakulehin is also a politician as he contested in 1992 and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to represent the Ibadan South East Constituency. While in the house, he served as the Chairman of the House Committee on the Nigerian Army.
10. His journey to becoming the Olubadan of Ibadanland began in 1983 when he emerged the Mogaji of his compound – the Ige Olakulehin Family of Ita-Baale Olugbode, Ibadan, till he became the Balogun of Ibadanland (one of the two most senior chiefs in Ibadanland).
11. He was crowned on the 12 July 2024 and he reigned till 7 July 2025.
12. Owolabi Olakulehin was a Christian and he was married with children.
