Dr. Kayode Afolabi, a former Commissioner for Health in Oyo State and the Provost of Premier College of Health Technology in Ibadan, urged all Mogajis (compound heads) in Ibadanland to view their roles as a call to service, stewardship, reconciliation, protection, and responsible leadership.
He delivered this message during the post-installation ceremony for his son, Chief Tolulope Akinkunmi Afolabi, who has been installed as Mogaji of the Agunbiade dynasty in Ode Aje, Alaadorin, Oluyoro Oke-Offa area of Ibadan.
The installation of the Mogaji Agunbiade dynasty took place on Monday, April 27th, 2026, at the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, located in Oke Aremo, Ibadan North Local Government Area.
...-installation ceremony was held on Saturday at the Ibadan Civic Center in the Idi Ape area.
The event saw the attendance of several dignitaries, including the Chairman of the occasion and President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole; special guest Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN; former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Hosea Agboola; Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ibadan, Professor Kehinde Kester; and Professors James Ayangunna and Yemisi Lydia Olaleye, along with other lecturers and students from the Department of Social Work at the University of Ibadan.
Also present were the traditional head of the Royal Owu Descendants Union in Ibadan and Mogaji of the Olugbode compound, Chief Teslim Olugbode; immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chief Ademola Babalola, who represented Alhaja Fatima Abdulkareem, Chairman of the Royal Descendants of Owu Union; Mr. Lateef Gbadamosi; Chief Segun Oyegbade Afolabi; and Alhaji Isiaka Adeniran Olasheu.
In his welcome address, Dr. Afolabi, who was joined by his wife and the Head of the Department of Social Work at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Abimbola Afolabi, expressed gratitude to all members of the Agunbiade compound, both at home and in the Diaspora, for their unanimous nomination of his son as Mogaji.
He emphasised that the title of Mogaji should not be seen as just a title to display but rather as a meaningful call to service, stewardship, reconciliation, protection, and responsible leadership. Dr. Afolabi described the occasion as a celebration of family, heritage, unity, responsibility, and service.
He said, “It gives me immense joy, gratitude and a deep sense of fulfilment to welcome you all to this special gathering as we celebrate the post-installation of our son, Chief Tolulope Akinkunmi Afolabi, the Mogaji Agunbiade. On behalf of the Afolabi family, and indeed the entire Agunbiade family, I warmly welcome you. Today is not merely a celebration of the conferment of a traditional title. It is a celebration of family, heritage, unity, responsibility and service. It is also a celebration of the confidence that a family has placed in one of its own sons.
“As we celebrate today, I want to make one appeal to every member of the Agunbiade family. Let this installation strengthens our unity. Let us remember that the strength of the Mogaji is ultimately the strength of the family. No Mogaji can succeed alone. No family can prosper where there is division. No heritage can survive where the younger generation is disconnected from its roots. And no legacy can endure unless each generation accepts the responsibility of preserving and improving what it inherited.
“I am encouraged that the new Mogaji has spoken about digital family records, human-capital development, diaspora engagement, education, empowerment and community security. He has also expressed his intention to support the security agenda of the Olubadan of Ibadanland. These are important areas for a modern family head to consider. We want an Agunbiade family that remembers where it came from but is not afraid of where it is going. We want young Agunbiade people who can compete anywhere in the world while remaining proud of their Ibadan heritage. We want our compound to be a place of peace, dignity, learning and opportunity. And we want Agunbiade to contribute positively to the wider development of Ibadanland.