The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Senator) Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Allí-Okunmade II has installed the Chairman of Erudite Group, Mr Saheed Oladele as the first Baàmẹ̀kọ́ of Ibadanland.
The installation took place at the Olubadan Palace in the Alarere Area of Ibadan on Saturday morning.
The event was attended by some of the members of Olubadan in Council, family heads and friends of the new chief.
Thereafter Oladele and his followers moved to his family compound located at Ile Otun, Oje Igosun Area where he met members of his family.
This was followed by a reception held at Trenchad Hall, University of Ibadan in the afternoon.
The reception featured the first Baameko Inter-University Oratory Contest titled “Nigeria’s educational system and the dilemma of meeting the 21st century global standards” which had the University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University, Covenant University, Lagos State University, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Obafemi Awolowo University in attendance. The event also featured the First Baàmẹ̀kọ́ Quiz on Yoruba culture, Ibadan history and traditions.
Some of the dignitaries at the reception included HRM Oba Abimbola Tajudeen Ajibola, Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Olori Laide Ajibola, Aare Onibon Iyalode of Ibadanland, Mogaji Teslim Abiodun Olugbode, Head of Owu People in Ibadan, Chief Ayodele Ojelade, Aare Onikoyi of Owu Kingdom, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State, Professor Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, Former Secretary to the State Government of Niger, Professor Yahya Kuta, Rector, the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adebiyi; Chief Imam, University of Ibadan Central Mosque, Professor Miftahudeen Oloyede Abdulrahman, President, University of Ibadan Senior Staff Club, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, Oyo State President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Dr Mary A. Odedare and Oyo State Immediate Past President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Pastor Sunday Kayode Adeyemi
Oladele while speaking noted that chieftaincy titles should not be seen as an avenue for personal aggrandizement but as a call to serve the people.
He said, “We believe now that a lot of people must have seen that chieftaincy titles should not just be an avenue for personal aggrandizement, a tool for oppressing people in your area or a tool for showing that you have arrived.
“To me, a prestigious title like this is a call to service, and I am ready to use this to give back to the people of Ibadan.
“We want to get out-of-school children back to school. Our government cannot do it alone.
Other dignitaries at the event are; Mrs Comfort Aderogba, Director, Rosebud Schools, Akobo, Ibadan; Mrs Olukemi Salako, Director, the Crown College, Ologuneru, Ibadan; Dr Kunle Alani Fajobi, Director, God’s Blessing School, Yemetu, Ibadan; Mrs Caroline Adenike Fajorin, Director, GISL School, Alarere, Ibadan; Mr Ajeniyi Gideon, Director, BAMDEK High School, Oyo; Mrs Maryam Aminu and husband, Directors, Olive Crest School, Arepo and Dr Rafiu Bello, Director, Golden Valley Schools, Oyo.
Among the top academics who came to pay homage to Baàmẹkọ were Professor Francis Egbokhare, Past President, of the Nigerian Academy of Letter (NAL); Professor Rasheed Bakare, Nigeria’s leading consultant venerealogist and bacteriologist; Professor Duro Adeleke, Former Head of Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan; Professor Sulaiman Yusuf and Professor Luqman Akinbile of the Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ibadan, Professor Adebayo Mosobalaje, a representative of the Vice Chancellor of Technical University, Ibadan.
Among friends, associates and well-wishers who graced the occasion were Mr Nurein Saka, General Manager, Flower Mills of Nigeria (Golden Transport) and his wife Mrs Maryam Saka, the University of Ibadan Deputy Bursar; Mr Tajudeen Oyebamiji, West African Regional Manager, Oracle Corporations; Pastor Sam Adedeji Afolabi, Florida and Pastor Bayo Oluwasaanu, CAC, Ibadan.
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