Abimbola Akeem Owoade I (born 17 July 1975) is the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, the traditional ruler of the Yoruba town of Oyo and a rightful heir to the throne of its historic empire.
Early Life and Education
Abimbola Owoade was born in 1975 into the royal family of Owoade-Agunloye, Agure Compound, Oyo Town, Oyo State, to Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade.
He is a paternal great-grandson of Alaafin Lawani Agogoja through his paternal grandfather Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, who was a brother of Alaafin Ladigbolu I. This makes him a member of the Agunloye royal house, a great-great-grandson of Alaafin Agunloye, and a direct descendant of Alaafin Atiba.
- 1992 – Completed Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State.
- 1994–1997 – Studied Mechanical Engineering at The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State (OND).
- 1999–2001 – Completed Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mechanical Engineering at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State.
- Later moved to the United Kingdom, where he earned:
- B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering – University of Sunderland (2008)
- M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering – Northumbria University (2012)
Career
- 2002 – Served in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a Mechanical Intern/Planner with the Nigeria Gas Company.
- 2003–2004 – Worked as a teller with Oceanic Bank Plc.
- Later relocated to the U.K., earning Project Management certification after his academic degrees.
- Most recently served as Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg, Canada, before becoming Alaafin.
Ascendancy
Following the death of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on 22 April 2022, the selection process for a successor became contentious:
- May 2023 – Some royal families protested alleged exclusion from the process.
- January 2025 – A faction warned the Oyo State Government against interference due to a pending court case.
Despite the disputes, on 10 January 2025, Governor Seyi Makinde approved Abimbola Owoade’s selection to succeed his second cousin twice removed, the late Oba Lamidi III.
On 13 January 2025, the governor presented him with a certificate and staff of office, and he was coronated on 5 April 2025.