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His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa, Oonirisa Olori Alade, Okirikiribiti, Oba (Dr.) Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) Arole Oodua, Ooni of Ife was born October 17, 1974 the 5th child in a family of 7 to the royal family of Prince John Oluropo Ogunwusi (veteran radio and television anchor and star presenter) of the Giesi Ruling House of the Oranmiyan Dynasty and Princess Margaret Wuraola Sidikatu Abegbe Ogunwusi (of Ile Opa family compound), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
His patriarchal grandfather was Prince Joseph Olagbaju Adewole Ogunwusi whose grandfather was Oba Orayegba (also recognized as Ooni Ojaja Orarigba – Ayikiti ninu Aran or Orasigba) Ojaja I, who was the 44th Ooni of Ife who reigned between 1878 and 1880. Through him, he is a direct progeny of Ooni Agbedegbede who was an offspring of Ooni Giesi, (the originator of the Giesi Ruling House) and therefore a heir of Ooni Lajodogun, a son of Ooni Lajamisan (or Lajemisin) who was a grandson of the renowned founder of the Oyo Empire, Oranmiyan, a son or grandson of the first Ooni of Ife, Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race.
Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi’s birth was said to be foretold years before his birth. As such, the name Enitan was given him by his mother while his grandfather christened him Adeyeye, which interprets, ‘the crown suits the throne’.The much revered monarch attended Subuola Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Ibadan and Ibadan District Council (IDC), Akobo, Ibadan for his primary education. He thereafter proceeded to Loyola College in 1985 led by Rev. G. B. Daramola, the Principal of the College and later St. Peters Secondary School, Omi Okun, Ile-Ife led by late Johnson Adebisi for his secondary education. After which, he attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan where he read and graduated with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy.
Right from his school days, he has cut a niche for himself and has been described as an, ‘astute entrepreneur driven by the need to turn impossibilities into possibilities’.
A distinct go-getter armed with exceptional ground-breaking business philosophies, Ooni Ogunwusi dug into Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and for about 2 decades has been vigorously involved with numerous developers handling over 2,500 housing units within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
Between 1996 and 1999, the revered Monarch was involved in commodity trading, marketing and distribution as the main facilitator of Dangote Group’s break into the ‘up-country supply chain consortium’ and likewise traded for Stallion Group, Global Apex, Milan Group, Clemco, Dohagro Allied and Olam from where he gained expertise in marketing. He also facilitated the biggest Lead and Aluminum recycling plant operation in Nigeria by National Steel Company of India in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
A strong believer in the Nigerian nation, Ooni Ogunwusi then a Prince led Government Delegation to Canada in 2002 which culminated into strategic agreements resulting into a partnership with the Ondo State Government on solid minerals (Bitumen, Gem stones, Granite) potentials which led to the formation of the State wholly owned ‘Amalgamated Mining and Exploration Company Limited.
As a result of his deep love for the Nigerian brand, he took the bull by the horn the same year by revitalizing the processing of rice locally within the country and donated rice and tilling equipment to both the Oyo and Ogun State Chapters of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria. He was also a leading force in the spread of the popular Ofada rice production with the support of Alhaji Abubakar Wodi, Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria.
The industrious royal breed ventured into the real estate sector engaging in several dredging and land reclamation projects in Lagos State before eventually launching his real estate brand, Essential Homes in 2014 to provide reasonable upscale homes to middle and low income earners. It has to its credit, the 1st phase of the Southpointe Estate on Lafiaji Road, Lekki, Lagos State with a reasonable percentage occupancy recorded and led the team that developed the prestigious Northpointe Estate Phases I, II, III and Midland Court on Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos. This is in addition to the many multi-billion Naira projects the brand executed within Lagos and its environs namely: Jacob Mews Estate, Yaba; Lakeview Park I and II Estate, Lekki; the on-going Golden Leaf Estate, Lekki; Grand Lake Estate, Ajah; The Lord’s Estate which is in partnership with His Royal Majesty, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Tejuosho, the Osile Oke-Ona Egba, Abeokuta and the piling of Lagos Home (a residential project powered by Lagos State Government) at Ilubirin, Lagos to mention a few.
An ardent lover of community development with a high sense of vision and creativity, Ooni Ogunwusi embarked on the provision of rural infrastructural facilities such as ‘Power Projects’ installing transformers and light poles as well as opening up and re-reconstruction of roads without government intervention to deserving communities. These include: the electrification, opening up and reconstruction of 6.5 kilometre road with a 1.1 kilometre green extension in Lafiaji community, off Orchid Hotel road, Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos powered by his company (Gran Imperio Group); Opening up and development of a remote jungle, (Inagbe Island) in 2013 into the multi-billion Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria (the first of its kind within the West African sub-region bounded by the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean) and in 2015, the magnificent and upcoming Ife Grand Resort and Leisure, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
A recipient of the prestigious National Ife Descendant Students’ Association (NIDSA) 2015 Gold Award, Ooni Ogunwusi is a grass root mobilizer, amiable bridge builder, philanthropist and a lover of youths and the less privileged most of who are beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme through the House of Oduduwa Foundation and recently Hope Alive Initiative. His generosity knows no bound. He is an employer of labour having in his kitty about 500 direct employees and circa 3500 indirect. His Inagbe Cocowood Factory, (Essential Homes Furniture Brand) has on its payroll about 400 indigenous youths.
His contribution to the steel development sector in Nigeria is immense. These include, enabling the development of the only Steel Galvanizing Plant in Nigeria, (Sparkwest Steel Galvanizing Plant), National Iron Ore Mining Company Limited and Jakura Mines recovery projects all of which are key limestone feedstock to Obajana Cement Plant, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Through the Association for International Business (AIB), a body with attendance in about 200 nations worldwide to which he has strong trade ties, business relationship has been established between the United Arab Emirate (Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone Development) and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC).
The Arole Oodua has interest in many blue chip business concerns cutting across Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Micro-credit facilities, Real Estate, Construction, Manufacturing, Facilities Management, Leisure and Tourism where he is either an initiator or on the Board amongst which are: Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited (formerly GT Homes); Fina Trust Microfinance Bank Limited and Gran Imperio Group.
He is Member of some professional bodies namely: Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); Associate Accounting Technician; Certified Member, Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigeria and Member, Global Real Estate Institute (GRI).
In addition, he holds a number of honorary doctorate degrees: one in Public Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and another in Law from Igbinedion University, Okada and currently the Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Ooni Ogunwusi is a record-breaker and bridge-builder who has built reputable relationships with virtually all revered Monarchs and leaders at home and abroad. He is also a strong advocate of peace who after his coronation, met with the Alaafin of Oyo, His Royal Majesty, Kabiyesi Alayeluwa, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Iku Baba Yeye, thus opening a new epoch in the history of the Yoruba nation having successfully broken the gremlin of the traditional rivalry between the thrones that had inundated Ile-Ife and Oyo for years. And by so doing, wrote his name down in gold in the annals of history.
He ascended the exalted throne of his fore-father on October 26, 2015 and was coronated as the 51st Ooni of Ife December 7, 2015 same day he received the Staff of Office.
He is loved, admired and highly revered at home and abroad.
