HRM Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I is a first class monarch of many developmental colours committed to human empowerment and infrastructural development. His monarchy is unprecedented, redefining the stool as a position of service.

Oba Akanbi has taken his town from obscurity to light, world renown. A servant per excellence, commanding nature as a representative of God on earth. He is a government on his own. A king of influence, rehabilitating roads, prominent of which was Iwo-Osogbo road, a state project.

Dilapidated roads within Iwo Township patched by the monarch. This, in essence has led to the abandonment of the snaky alternative road to the state capital.  Today, the route is a blessing to Nigerians and in essence, lubricate the commercial relationship of Iwo with other cities.

The early life of an Oba

Oba Abdul-Rosheed Adewale Akanbi was born on the 21st June, 1967 to the family of Prince Kola Akanbi of Gbaase Ruling House, Iwo Kingdom.

Young Prince Wale Akanbi had his elementary school at Omolewa Nursery and Primary School, Oritamefa, Ibadan between 1972 and 1978.

In 1978 Om’oba Wale Akanbi started his secondary education at Iwo Grammar School, Araromi, Iwo and later went to Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Idi-Ape, Ibadan wherein in 1982, he passed out in flying colours.

Oba Akanbi is an alumni of The Polytechnic Ibadan where he obtained National Diploma in Mass Communication. Oba Akanbi was an active member of Association of Students’ Communicators (ASCOM).

Alayeluwa Oba Akanbi left the shore of Nigeria to far away Canada to enlarge his kingdom. At Canada, Prince Adewale Akanbi bagged B.Sc. in Business Administration from George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2009.

Oba Akanbi also obtained Certificate in Cybis& Axis System at Convergys Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada in 2001-2005; Seismic certificate in Operations, Oil and Gas Processing Facilities in 2005.

He worked as a Data Processor, Bio-skin GMBH in Hamburg Germany (1996-2005), International Development Analyst (Oxfam Canada); travelling to help war and disaster stricken countries around the world by supplying and supporting refugees with relief materials. Prince Akanbi also worked as Associate Supervisor, Purdy Wharf Towers, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Prince Enterprises, Toronto, Ontario M5H4E7 Canada, Director and Founder of People Against Loneliness Inc. 508-58 Waterson Road, Toronto Ontario, Canada, West Africa Coordinator (Karcher Group FutureTech) presently working on supply of future technology on peace keeping force to the Defence Ministry. Oba Adewale Akanbi is the recipient of Role Model & Achievers Award, one of the coveted awards at the famous BLACK CANADIAN AWARD 2015. Oluwo was the recipient of the prestigious Nigeria Excellence Awards in 2016 as the Royal Father of the Year.

Among others,  Oba Akanbi was also awarded by Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) for his services to humanity.

Service to humanity is my watch word, says Oluwo

In Less than one year as Oluwo of Iwo, Oluwo initiated food bank tagged “OLUWO FOOD AND CLOTHING BANKS” wherein meals are given to the less privileged – Widows, orphans, have not and others three days in a week. The succor (feeding) was designed to identify with the poor to feel belong as one of the future asset of our society.

Most times, they are marginalized and loathe as an insignificant segment of the society. Worst more, they are restricted from social gatherings and discussions, look upon as inferiors with no respect attach to their presence. Oluwo felt bashed and thought of how they can be reconnected to the society. The meal is served every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week.

Full of passion for his children, Oluwo frequently mingle with them while serving the food, have handshake, jolly talks, offers advice and pray for their survival to become governors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, doctors, professors and many more. In one of his address to those children, Oluwo was quoted saying.

“You are the best I am afraid of.  Why? Some look down on you as nothing, but we have among you a first class asset that will hold the destiny of this land into their hands in the nearest future. If I say tomorrow, I am referring to you and it shall be well with you. Had it been some of my prosperous sons benefitted such when they were young, who knows may be they would have been more patriotic”? Oluwo.

His eyes see the best, his leg purifies the route, and his mouth is commandment while his actions are progress. Oluwo food bank, apart from identifying himself with the less privilege, also reduced the rate of pilfering among the teen and under teen. The assemblage of those children turns to counseling school wherein the monarch ignites their hope.

Associating and acknowledging monarch is not an unprecedented debate. And leadership is much appreciated in action not in oral discourse. For you to be called controversial in Nigeria is a pointer, even to the blind and a bell to the deaf.

Monarchs’ beliefs in God and gods. But Telu, the representative of Oodua, a first class paramount ruler bowed to none of the gods. One of the leading reasons he is tagged controversial.

His humility is unequalled. Appreciating those features in monarchy has earned Oluwo numerous awards as the best king of the year by various bodies, both government and Non-Governmental agencies.  Oluwo was credited in challenging the retrogressive status quo mostly preaching against idolatry and healing the wounds of his subjects.

Oluwo is a monarch with a difference in the administration of the crown. He defined the stool as position of service, nothing else. In his popular word, he said “A good leader lead to serve his subjects and after, the led will give what is due to such leader in return provided he had served them very well”.

“Seeing smile on the people`s faces is what gives me joy. Taking care of the present so they can be better through healthcare, food and infrastructures is my target as a traditional ruler. I worship God through service to humanity and that is my utmost priority, my own private jet, my maybach and all luxuries of Life” Oluwo.

The primary duty of a  competent leader, call it traditional, religious or political, is enveloped in breeding the air of hope, the means of surviving, leveling without prejudice particularly the neglected scavengers subjected to no or little means of income.

The Holy books, Quran and Bible explicitly narrated the attributes expected of a leader. And many of the past highlighted religious leaders who we presumed to be perfect role model of any performing front horses are undoubtedly deserve our encomium of merit.

When you see any monarch registering his wealth for the poor, note him, he is not an ordinary man but a servant.  Here comes one of them, father figure, the first class paramount ruler, Oluwo of Iwo. The best of you should embrace and promote his intention for a greener morrow.

In one of OLUWO’s interview with journalists, Akanbi was quoted as saying “I love my town than my family. Oluwo of Iwoland, HRM Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I has described Iwo as a virile city of great impact, saying he loves the people of the community more than himself. The monarch disclosed his loyalty to Iwo and Nigeria in general as incontestable, pointing his service to his people has cost him to leave his new baby and family in Canada for long.

Oluwo said he ought to have visited his family in Canada and facilitate external investors but was halted because of his dare need to put smile in his immediate peoples` faces through his service to humanity. He disclosed the situation of Iwo requires short-term means best achieved by sweeping our house from inside. The monarch disclosed he need no visa to travel to anywhere in the world but sees no sense in frequently jetting out of Nigeria when his people are suffering.

Oba Akanbi pointed his compassionate programmes ranging from Oluwo Food Bank designed to give free meals to the less privileged three days a week and others continue despite his absence, affirmed all arrangements were concluded before his departure.

“Oluwo is a worthy father. He loves the people of Iwo and Nigerians as whole. My love and service to my people has been postponing my travelling. I can`t just live my people like that. That is why before I travelled, I made provision for everything needed so that the people I feed will not suffer before my return. I love Iwolites more than myself and my children”.

“I don’t need visa to travel to any part of the world but my patriotic zeal to Iwoland, seeing smile in my peoples` faces is my utmost joy postponing my journey for long. You don’t sweep your house from outside, you sweep from inside. I must take care of my people before any trip”

Oba Akanbi in collaboration with Canadian associate distributed laptops to two universities – a private university,  Bowen University, Iwo and Osun State University,  Osogbo.

Handling the laptops to the Vice-Chancellor of one of the two benefiting universities, Bowen University, Prof. M.A Ojo, Oluwo described digital education in modern era as necessary, calling on stakeholders to uphold students in whatever capacity to make our society a better place for all and sundry in the near future.

“My donation of 100 laptops is just the tips of the iceberg. I am just coming. Had it been people know the future is in classroom, they would have invested the lion share of their asset in education. I am taking the lead as traditional ruler and hopeful it will challenge the stakeholders to do more”

Oba Akanbi is a trail blazer in associating with children. It was established that the monarch has launched an annual programme tagged “Oluwo Children Day” wherein sporting and academic competitions hold among the secondary and primary schools students of Iwo Federal Constituency covering the trio local governments of Iwo , Ayedire and Ola Oluwa,  Osun State,  Nigeria.

Today 27th Day of May, 2017, more than 3,000 students gathered here for sporting activities wherein the winners of the pre-grand finale quiz competitions are compensated with prizes and awards.

The spirituality of Oba Akanbi

It is of note that the facilitator that engineered the formation of Iwo was a female monarch at Ile-Ife. Her name was Luwo Gbagida, the first female Ooni and 16th Ooni of Ife.

He commanded her son, Adekola Telu to leave Ife with crown and settled at a place where he sees speaking objects not human being. Of great surprise is the peculiarity of 16th in the coming of Telu I, the 16th Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Adewale Akanbi.

The uniqueness of the monarch calls for suspicion between and among those who could read between the lines. The natural law of synchronization stays and abides with Oba Akanbi, Telu I of the progressive Iwolites.

Oba Akanbi, the active Oluwo of Iwoland is the 16th monarch of the ancient city, an unplanned coincident with his mother, Luwo Gbagida, the 16th Ooni of Ife. Just like Gbagida, Oluwo stool has been managed by the past 15th crowns.

Succession upon succession produced Oba Akanbi as the 16th occupier of the stool. His installation was greeted with resounding applause sensing the blessing attached to the coming of a spiritual monarch of Iwo.

The first class ruler is an asset of many developmental colours. He compromised his policies but not his principles to lubricate the promotion of his domain. Oluwo, whom I tagged “The Monarch of Number” is exceptionally blessed with divine commandment which is product of holy crown. Everything about him is message, even to the blind, the deaf and the dump.

If you accused him of much expression, have you forgotten Iwo is home of parrot. Oluwo is miraculously blessed and guided with 16.

Inadvertently, Oba Akanbi coronation was held on 16th Januray, 2016 even without his consent. As an observer, I noticed there must be message. Since then, prior to my appointment as his Chief Press Secretary in  February this year,  I visit him on 16th of the month occasionally for his royal blessing. Undoubtedly, he was sent for a purpose.

The purpose of which is pure, undiluted and rare mostly among his colleagues. The divined spirituality of Oluwo is incontestable and was further affirmed in the power of 16th, the pure holistic 16 and not the ritualize 16.

Taken aback, the new gift (son) from the Creator to Oluwo was catapulted to the earth on the 16th November, 2016, most bizarre indeed. To establish his leadership role model, Oluwo named the child Oduduwa.

Oluwo has commanded rain at different public occasions several times,  a demonstration of his belief in God and not gods.