Ahead of the activities lined up for the May 23, 2025 coronation ceremony, the Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Clement Adesuyi, Ajimoko III, has inaugurated a 13-member Coronation Committee to package world-class events befitting the historic occasion.
The high-powered Committee is led by a former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Professor Wale Omole, with Alhaji Lateef Akande Bakare, a Chartered Accountant of global repute, as Vice Chairman.
A visionary leader and cosmopolitan citizen, Prof. Wale Omole was born on August 14, 1942. He has the rare privilege of being the first alumnus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, to be appointed Vice Chancellor. His appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the University on November 30, 1991, which spanned eight years, brought astronomic development and monumental achievements to the university.
Prof. Omole, a recipient of the National Honour of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, is a sound academic whose views on agriculture, nutritional biochemistry and health physics are highly respected internationally. He serves as the Chairman, Editorial Board of The Guardian newspaper.
The Committee’s Vice Chairman, Alhaji Lateef Akanbi Bakare, is a chartered accountant with over 45 years of post-qualification experience. Over the years, Alhaji Bakare, who clocks 70 later this year, has made a great name, locally and universally, as an eagle-eyed financial expert with a clarity of vision. He retired in 1991 as the Quality Assurance Partner at Deloitte. He is the Founder and Managing Partner at Lateef Bakare & Co; as well as Adetona, Bakare & Co respectively, both firms of accountants and insolvency practitioners.
World-renowned journalist and accomplished lawyer, Lady Modupe Ajayi- Gbadebo, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, FNGE, serves as Secretary to the distinguished Committee.
Lady Ajayi Gbadebo, who is the first National Vice President of the Ijesa Development Council, IDC, is a Fellow and co-Chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, FCarb. Among others, she had served as Special Adviser to Ambassador Babagana Kingibe when he was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under the Administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, between July 2007 and September 2008.
Other distinguished members of the Committee are:Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, Hon. Sunday Bisi, Mr. Olusola Dada, Prof. Kolawole Kazeem, Prince Abimbola Olashore, Bayo Omole Esq., Dr Oladimeji Alo, Very Rev. Dr. Ogunbeku, Mr. Ayo Odeyemi and Barrister Dosu Babatunde.
The Coronation Committee is charged with the mandate to coordinate all arrangements for the week-long series of activities across Ijesaland culminating in the epoch-making event.
The Committee has already hit the ground running, establishing 11 subcommittees to cover various aspects of the coronation.
The subcommittees include media/publicity; protocols; events and venues; security; entertainment; among others.
Here, at a glance, is the entire membership of the Coronation Committee:
1. Prof. Wale Omole – Chairman
2. Alhaji Lateef A. Bakare – Vice chairman
3. Lady Modupe Ajayi-Gbadebo – Secretary
4. Hon. Ajibola Famurewa
5. Hon. Sunday Bisi
6. Mr Olusola Dada
7. Prof. Kolawole Kazeem
8. Prince Abimbola Olashore
9. Bayo Omole Esq
10. Dr Oladimeji Alo
11. Very Rev. Dr Ogunbeku
12. Mr. Ayo Odeyemi
13. Barr Dosu Babatunde
![[File photo: Atiku at a press conference]](https://i0.wp.com/thecrestng.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/th-8.jpg?resize=390%2C220&ssl=1)
