All roads led to the sprawling palace of the Alara of Ilara Kingdom in Epe, Lagos State, last Friday.
It was the installation of the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, His Excellency Wendell De Landro, as the Aare Atunluto by His Royal Majesty, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo (Telade IV).
Friday’s honorary chieftaincy totle installation was the culmination of a two-day ceremony that also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Kabiyesi and the High Commissioner.
The signing of the MoU therefore signifies the beginning of a special relations between Ilara-Epe of Lagos State and Trinidad and Tobago.
As the Aare Atunluto, H.E Wendell is expected, and has promised, to facilitate a series of mutually-beneficial measures between Ilara-Epe and the tourism-friendly country in the heart of the Carribeans.
The soft-spoken High Commissioner says his impact will be felt in the areas of trade and investment, education and human capacity development as well as culture and tourism.
“Trinidad and Tobago is considered the most heterogeneous island in the Carribeans and can be considered a melting pot when it comes to the cultural and ethnic make-up of its people,” the diplomat said.
To demonstrate his commitment to the MoU and strengthening of the 60-year-old bilateral relations between Nigeria and the beautiful country on the Carribean Island, Oba Ogunsanwo will next week lead a delegation to this year’s edition of the Trade & Investment Conference in Trinidad and Tobago.
Ogunsanwo was Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) before his installation as a traditional monarch.
Friday’s ceremony was witnessed by several chiefs of Ilara Kingdom like Chief Jelil Olayemi, Asoju Oba of Ilara; Chief Charles Keshinro, Odofin of Ilara; Chief Owolabi Talabi, Olisa of Ilara and Chief Azeez Balogun, Ekeji of Ilara.
Others were Col Rotimi Vaughan, Honourary Consul Designate of Trinidad & Tobago; Mr. Steve Ayorinde, former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture; Engineer Adejuwon Badejo and, of course, the wife of Kabiyesi, Olori A. Ogunsanwo, who beautifully hosted the reception.
