From Royal Throne to Academic Gown — Youngest Yoruba King Bags Political Science Degree from ABUAD
In Yorubaland, kingship is not manufactured; it is divinely ordained. Kings are born, not made. They are born into custom, into covenant, into a sacred lineage protected by the gods of the land and foretold by prophecy.
This ancient African truth — sacrosanct in the pre-colonial belief system that stretched across the trans-Saharan world — finds a living expression in Okeluse Kingdom, Ondo State.
Seven years after destiny placed the crown on his head as a teenager, the custodian of that sacred institution has added another crown — an academic one.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akingbare II, the Arujale-Ojima of Okeluse Kingdom, has graduated from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
The 23-year-old monarch, widely celebrated as one of the youngest traditional rulers in Yorubaland, graduated at the University’s 14th convocation ceremony held on Wednesday. The event, which saw 2,194 students graduate — the largest in the institution’s history — was graced by prominent traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, and the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti.
A Teenage King, A Determined Scholar
Oba Adekoya’s journey is extraordinary. He ascended the throne of his forebears in 2019 at the tender age of 16, following the demise of his father. While many would have been overwhelmed by the weight of royal responsibilities, the young king chose to pursue both tradition and education with equal devotion.
For seven years, he has successfully combined rigorous academic life at one of Nigeria’s leading private universities with the demanding spiritual, cultural, and administrative duties of leading Okeluse Kingdom.
His graduation marks a powerful statement: that traditional leadership and modern scholarship are not mutually exclusive, but complementary.
Education as Tool of Modern Kingship
Oba Adekoya’s choice of Political Science is both symbolic and strategic. The discipline, which interrogates governance, political institutions, public administration, and statecraft, provides a formidable intellectual foundation for a monarch navigating the delicate interface between traditional institutions and contemporary democratic governance.
In an era where traditional rulers are increasingly called upon to be development advocates, peace-builders, and custodians of community progress, his academic training positions him uniquely to bridge ancestral wisdom with modern public affairs management.
A Celebrated Milestone
Since the news of his graduation broke, congratulatory messages have poured in from across Ondo State, Yorubaland, and beyond. Admirers have lauded his discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to personal development despite his exalted status.
His story resonates deeply — a testament to the possibility of holding sacred tradition in one hand and the pursuit of knowledge in the other.
For the people of Okeluse, his achievement is more than a personal milestone; it is a collective pride and an inspiration to young people that no height is unattainable, even from the throne.
As he returns to his kingdom with his certificate, expectations are high that his education will further enrich his reign and accelerate the development of Okeluse Kingdom.
Aiyekooto Reporters congratulates HRM Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akingbare II, Arujale-Ojima of Okeluse Kingdom, on this remarkable academic feat. May his reign be long, enlightened, and impactful.
