Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has formally ratified the nomination of Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, with the coronation fixed for Friday, September 26, 2025, at Mapo Hall in the heart of Ibadan.
The confirmation followed a series of consultations, including a crucial meeting between a state government delegation, Oba Ladoja, and members of the Olubadan-in-Council at his Bodija residence on Wednesday.
Chief Adeola Oloko, the media aide to Oba Ladoja, affirmed the development, noting that the installation will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the leadership of Ibadanland.
The decision comes in the wake of the passing of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ladoja’s predecessor. Earlier in the week, the Olubadan-designate held a private meeting with the city’s kingmakers, a two-hour session that was the first formal engagement since his return to Ibadan.
Preparations are now underway across the ancient city for a ceremony expected to draw indigenes, dignitaries, and well-wishers from within and beyond Nigeria, as Oba Ladoja ascends the revered throne and assumes guardianship of Ibadan’s cultural legacy.
