Daud Olatunji
The Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, has paid a glowing tribute to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing his passing as a monumental loss to the university community and the entire black race.
Oba Adetona, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 90, reigned for an unprecedented 65 years, earning global recognition as the world’s longest-reigning monarch.
In an emotional statement issued on Monday, Prof. Agboola said the revered monarch was not only a symbol of royal heritage but also a rare benefactor whose visionary investments transformed the Ijebu kingdom and elevated the profile of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU).
“The news of Kabiyesi’s passing was received with deep sorrow but total submission to the will of God. His death is truly a monumental loss to our entire University community,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He described Oba Adetona, as a national figure of uncommon dignity and statesmanship, commending him for his lifetime commitment to education, good governance and community development.
The monarch established the Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance at OOU’s Department of Political Science — an endowment Prof. Agboola described as “unprecedented in the history of professorial chairs in Nigeria.”
He said since its establishment, the annual lecture series hosted by the chair has become a melting pot for leading academics, policymakers, and corporate leaders, attracting national attention to governance discourse in Nigeria.
Th VC said beyond academic contributions, the monarch donated landmark residential buildings for researchers and directors, spearheaded critical infrastructure projects within the university and beyond, and established the School of Governance Studies — a policy think tank which was recently adopted by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
“Oba Adetona was born into greatness and achieved greatness. He was not only the pride of Ijebuland but a national icon of integrity, wisdom and philanthropy,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
He noted that Oba Adetona’s reign brought “phenomenal impact” to public life and governance in Nigeria, adding that his legacy would endure through the countless lives he touched.
Prof. Agboola extended condolences to the monarch’s family, the Ijebu Traditional Council, the Ogun State Government, and the wider Nigerian and African community.
“Our monarch’s passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but we hope to find solace in the outstanding legacy he left behind,” the statement read.
He concluded with a prayer: “May his memory remain a source of inspiration and unity for generations to come. E sun re o, Alaiyeluwa!”
Oba Adetona ascended the throne of his forebears in 1960 and has since remained a towering symbol of traditional authority, reformist leadership, and visionary philanthropy in Nigeria.
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