Ooni of Ife @ 49: A realtor, Accountant and 5 other facts about Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II celebrates his 49th birthday today (October 17).

The monarch is known for his passion for cultural tourism, peace initiatives, youth and women empowerment, and the preservation of Yoruba culture and traditions.

He is also known for partnerships with international organizations, promotion of African spirituality and traditional medicine, and above all commitment to the well-being of his people.

As he marks his 49th birthday today, MyNigeria throws the spotlight on him as we highlight some facts you probably didn't know about him.

7 facts about Ooni of Ife

1. Personal profile

The Ooni of Ife's real name is Adeyeye Enisan Ogunwusi. He was born October 17, 1974, at Ife, Osun State and currently resides in Osun State. He was raised alongside six siblings, Adetunji Ogunwusi, Adebimpe Daudu, Folashade Fadairo, Abimbola Adegboyega Ogunwusi, Folusho Adepemi, and Adesola Olojede.

He went to Subuola Memorial Nursery and Primary School in Ibadan for elementary studies. Ooni of Ife began his high school studies at Loyola College, Ibadan and completed his studies at St. Peters Secondary School. He later joined The Polytechnic of Ibadan, where he pursued a course in accounting.

2. Career

Ooni of Ife is a real estate agent and certified public accountant. He is an accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria after completing his accountancy courses.

He entered the real estate business and is doing well as a realtor. He is a member of both the Global Real Estate Institute and the Institute of Directors. He served as the managing director of Howard Roark Gardens Limited, which built Lakeview homes and the Jacob Mews Estate.

3. How he became Ooni of Ife

On October 26, 2015, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi competed against 26 other candidates for the position of Ooni of Ife and won. He became the 51st Ooni of Ife on December 7, 2015, and he took office shortly after.

He resides in the Ooni of Ife's palace in the Nigerian state of Osun. As the residence of the king and the repository of the tribe's history and culture, the palace is very important to the Yoruba people. The palace also acts as a venue for adjudication of disputes.

4. Marriage life

The Yoruba king has six wives. He married his six wives in two months, between September 2022 and October 2022. His wives are Olori Mariam, Elizabeth Opeoluwa Akinmuda, Olori Tobi Phillips Ogunwusi, Princess Ashley Adegoke, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi, and Temitope Adesegun.

The king had two children, a daughter and a son, from past marriages before he married his current six wives.

His first marriage to Omolara Olatubosun produced Adeola Aanuolouwapo Ogunwusi, the founder and CEO of Digital Space Capital. In 2008, he married Adebukola Bombata but they divorced in 2016.

Between 2016 and 2017, he was also married to Zaynab Otiti Obanor. Tadenikawo was born to the king after his marriage to Prophetess Morenike Naomi Oluwaseyi.

5. Advocate for cultural tourism

He is a passionate advocate for cultural tourism in Nigeria and has been actively promoting the Ife Grand Resorts and Leisure project, which aims to attract tourists to the historic city of Ife.

The Ooni of Ife is a strong advocate for the preservation of Yoruba culture and traditions. He has been involved in various cultural festivals and has also established the Ife Museum of Antiquities to showcase the rich cultural heritage of his kingdom.

The Ooni of Ife is known for his role in fostering peace and unity among different ethnic groups in Nigeria. He has been involved in various peace initiatives and has hosted several inter-ethnic harmony events.

6. Partnership with international organizations

He has formed partnerships with international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to drive development in his kingdom and Nigeria as a whole.

7. His personal traits

His leadership style is characterized by his humility, accessibility, and commitment to the well-being of his people. He has been a role model for traditional rulership in Nigeria.