Owa Obokun Adimula Installs Chief Lateef Bakare as Ajirowa of Ijesaland Amidst Grand Ceremony.
In a momentous traditional ceremony rich in cultural heritage and celebration, the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, on Saturday conferred the chieftaincy title of Ajirowa of Ijesaland on Alhaji Lateef Akande Bakare. His wife, Chief Mrs. Bukola Bakare, was also installed as Yeye Ajirowa of Ijesaland.
The installation rites, performed for the first time under the current reign, took place at the Owa’s Court in Ereja Quarters, Ilesa. The couple was adorned with traditional ewe akoko (hup plum leaves) during the symbolic ritual dressing, signifying their readiness to assume their new roles in the Ijesa traditional council.
Following the rites, the entourage proceeded to Ilesa City Hall, where the royal conferment was completed. The monarch presented the couple with akun oye (chieftaincy beads) and fila oye (customized caps), amid cheers and cultural fanfare. Dignitaries from across the country graced the event, which was marked by rich displays of Ijesa tradition and community unity.
Philanthropy at the Heart of Celebration
To commemorate his 70th birthday, Chief Lateef Bakare commissioned a modern complex donated to the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre in Ilesa. The centre, which caters to elderly citizens, is part of his continued philanthropic efforts rooted in compassion and a deep commitment to social welfare.
Speaking during the commissioning, Chief Bakare explained that his decision to support the elderly stemmed from a heartfelt desire to improve the lives of vulnerable senior citizens. He also highlighted the historical formation of the Ijesaland Community Development Assembly (ICDA)—an initiative driven by Ijesa elites to support communal growth and responsible care for the aged.
He praised the impact of the Geriatric Centre donated to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (Wesley Guild, Ilesa), widely regarded as the largest and most well-equipped elderly care facility in West Africa.
Royal Endorsement and Community Impact
In his remarks, Oba Haastrup described Chief Bakare as a “true son of the soil” whose dedication to the development of Ijesaland made him eminently deserving of the prestigious title. He commended Bakare’s exceptional leadership within the Ijesaland Development Council and other community development initiatives.
The monarch also lauded members of the ICDA and Ijesaland Development Council (IDC) for fostering unity and lifting Ijesaland to an enviable status within the Yoruba nation through sustained collective action and philanthropy.
Dignitaries in Attendanc
The high-profile event drew a distinguished list of attendees, including:
Olori Victoria Haastrup, wife of the monarch
Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola
Former Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore
Former Speakers, Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello and Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye
PDP Chairman in Osun State, Sunday Bisi
Former federal lawmakers, Israel Famurewa and Gbenga Onigbogi
Former APC Chairman, Lowo Adebiyi
Air Vice Marshal Petirin (Rtd)
Traditional rulers including the Owarisa of Ilowa, Oba Ali, Olomi of Omo, Awaraja of Iwaraja, and Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, among others.
A Life of Professional Distinction
Chief Lateef Akande Bakare currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afromedia Plc, a position he assumed on July 22, 2019. With over four decades of professional experience, he has worked across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, contributing meaningfully to both corporate growth and national development.
A renowned chartered accountant and restructuring expert, Chief Bakare is a member of several professional bodies, including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) UK, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
He was notably celebrated as the most outstanding Accountancy student of Yaba College of Technology in 1975/76, having passed the five-part ACCA examination in record time. He later obtained further qualifications from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom.
As a committed community leader, Chief Bakare is also an executive member of the Ijesaland Development Council, a founding member of the ICDA, and a pioneer member of the Ijesaland Independent Development Monitors Steering Committee.