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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Alaafin installs former First Bank CEO Adeduntan as Oyo’s Balogun

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Alaafin Oba Akeem Owoade installed former First Bank of Nigeria CEO Dr Adesola Adeduntan as the new Balogun of Oyo.
  • The ceremony brought together traditional rulers, government officials and community members, and emphasized service, peace, development and cultural heritage.
  • The event also marked a public meeting between the Alaafin and Olubadan Oba Rashidi Ladoja, highlighting ties between Oyo and Ibadan traditional institutions.

The ancient city of Oyo turned out on Saturday for the formal installation of Dr Adesola Adeduntan as the kingdom’s new Balogun. The ceremony took place at the Alaafin’s Palace, where dignitaries, traditional rulers, government officials and Oyo indigenes gathered for the occasion.

Adeduntan, a former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, succeeds the late Dr Victor Olunloyo, the former governor of the old Oyo State. The Alaafin, Oba Akeem Owoade, described the Balogun as one of the most revered and senior offices in the Oyo Empire, historically associated with leadership, courage and the defence of the kingdom.

Oba Owoade urged the new title holder to uphold the institution’s values and use his experience to advance peace, unity and development in Oyo Kingdom. Adeduntan thanked the Alaafin and the people of Oyo, pledging to serve with humility, integrity and commitment to Oyo and Yorubaland. He also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University in Ibadan and as the Apesin Ola of Ibadanland.

The Balogun title is one of the most revered and senior offices in the Oyo Empire, historically saddled with the responsibility of leadership, courage, and defence of the kingdom.

· Oba Akeem OwoadeThe Alaafin described the historical standing and responsibilities of the office during Adeduntan’s installation.

President Bola Tinubu congratulated Adeduntan and described the installation as a call to greater service. The ceremony, originally scheduled for July 18, was postponed to honour victims of the Oriire abduction. Traditional drumming, prayers and homage by chiefs of the Oyomesi and other title holders formed part of the event.

The gathering also carried significance because Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Rashidi Ladoja attended. It marked his first known visit to Oyo town since Oba Owoade’s coronation and brought the two prominent traditional rulers together publicly after reports of perceived differences following an earlier public incident. Ladoja had previously said that incident was not intended as a snub. Their meeting highlighted the importance of unity, mutual respect and cooperation between traditional institutions in Oyo State.

I pledge to serve with humility, integrity and commitment to the progress of Oyo and Yorubaland.

· Adesola AdeduntanThe newly installed Balogun responded to the honour and set out his commitment to the kingdom.
About this summary

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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