Today Friday July 24, 2020, his Royal Majesty, Ona Omogbolahan Lawal Oniru, the first-class monarch of Iruland; a vast area that covers Victoria Island, Ikoyi and part of the Lekki Peninsula is celebrating his Golden Anniversary and he is in an ebullient mood.
The monarch who has had a stellar, exemplary and fulfilling career in public service is also remarkably setting his sight on how tourism, entertainment and the creative sector in general can bring more glory to an already commercially viable and primed real estate domain where he reigns as the monarch. This is not surprising as this former police officer and a holder of two master’s degrees is also a music and art enthusiast and indeed a culture connoisseur.
While receiving his paraphernalia of office at a simple but colorful ceremony to ascend the throne of his forefathers as the 15th Oniru of Iruland a few weeks ago, he had pledged his commitment to leverage on tourism to bring more glory to the kingdom and the Yoruba race as a whole.
“I will project the Yoruba culture and tradition by promoting and sustaining our identity as a people. Consequently, I pledge to invest resources in projects that will promote cultural renaissance in Yoruba land. I will spare no sweat in guaranteeing the advancement of the Yoruba culture and tradition. I will work with various stakeholders to achieve this,” he assured.
His story is the stuff fairy tales are made of. His ascension to the throne of his forefathers came a few weeks before his golden jubilee and he is mincing no words in expressing his excitement at the development.
“I believe that God has given me a golden opportunity to write my name in gold as I reach this golden milestone. Undoubtedly, the ecstatic reactions that trailed my proclamation as the 15th Oniru of Iru is an affirmation that it is God that truly crowns a King. The outpour of love and ceaseless goodwill messages have been amazing – Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” he enthused.
Early Life and Education
Perhaps, William Shakespeare had Oba Gbolahan Lawal in mind when he said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. He was born into the prestigious Ojora, Aromire, Shokun and Abisogun royal families of Lagos State; to Chief T. A. Lawal- Akapo and Olori M. A. Lawal-Akapo on July 24, 1970. His father, the late Chief T. A. Lawal-Akapo, was the Ojora of Lagos while his mother was an Oniru.
He started his secondary education at the famous St. Gregory’s College, Lagos before proceeding to obtain a degree in Botany from the University of Port Harcourt in 1992.
Not satisfied with this alone, he proceeded to the London School of Economics and Political Science where he bagged an Executive M.Sc in CITIES (LSE, Cities) and another M.sc in Violence, Conflict, and Development, from the School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS], the University of London in 2008.
An ardent lover of education, he went on to complete several courses and programmes amongst which are the International Housing Finance Program (IHFP) and Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA in 2015. He is also a product of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the World Bank Institute, Washington D.C. He is also a Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
Glittering Career
Having studied at some of the best institutions locally and internationally, Kabiyesi OmoGbolahan started his professional career as a Scientific Officer with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in 1994. He later joined the Nigerian Police Force in service of his country and was commissioned as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent. While in the force, he held several duty posts, and like a goldfish that has no hiding place, he served as an Aide-de-Camp [ADC] to a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He retired voluntarily from the Nigerian Police in 2008 as a Superintendent of Police.
His stellar performance as ADC to Tinubu did not go unnoticed as he was appointed as a Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on special projects in 2009. He served as the Coordinator of the Agriculture-Based Youth Empowerment Scheme (Agric-YES). Following the success of Agric-YES, he was appointed as the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives in Lagos State in 2011.
His impeccable public service record and his ability to address urban challenges led to his appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Housing by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in October 2015, a position he occupied till 2019.
When Babajide Sanwo-Olu emerged as governor of the state in 2019, Gbolahan was again appointed as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives. With that appointment, he became one of the very few people who have served under three different governors without counting his stint as the ADC to another governor.
Ascension To The Throne
Having recorded a stellar, exemplary and distinguished career, it did not come as a surprise to many when he ascended the throne of his forefather as the new monarch of Iruland following the passing on of Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru, the former Oniru, who died at the age of 82 in 2019.
Governor of the state, Sanwo-Olu who incidentally was Oba Gbolahan’s boss till last month presented the staff of office to him following his selection by kingmakers and elders of Iruland as well as ratification of his nomination by the State Executive Council.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Lawal said he was ready for the challenges ahead of him while extending a hand of fellowship to other members of the other ruling houses.
“I consider it a divine call to succeed the legendary Oba Abiodun Idowu Oniru, who reigned for 25 years. I pray to Olodumare to grant him and the souls of all my departed forebears eternal rest. Succeeding such an iconic monarch comes with its peculiar challenge. But then, of what essence is life without challenges? For the discerning, challenges are the real sparks that bring the best out of life. Let me assure all that I would not take your support for granted,” he said.
His ascension to the throne has received the backing of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs as the Chairman of the council, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, at the coronation said that Lawal’s installation as the 15th Oniru was ordained by God and was done in fulfillment of the wishes of the kingdom’s founding fathers.
The royal father, who went into the history of the kingdom, said the monarch was duly nominated and qualified for the position, having been a descendant of Aromire through Abisogun clan. Oba Akiolu advised the new Oniru to extend an arm of fellowship to his opponents to move the kingdom forward. He urged Lawal to adopt an open-door policy in directing the affairs of the kingdom but admonished him not to tolerate advice that may promote division and cause friction among his subjects.
Akiolu said: “As you are ascending the throne of your forefathers, I pray that your reign shall be long-lasting. Now, you are the king, I urge all sons and daughters of this kingdom to join hands with you to move this land forward. I also advise you to personally make an effort and gather all members of the ruling houses and citizens for the sake of unity.”
