•Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I
The immediate past Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, foreign envoys, captains of industry, and other notable dignitaries from across the country are set to attend the coronation of the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I, on Saturday, April 1, 2025, in Oyo.
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the coronation, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, disclosed this at a press briefing held at the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo today.
Ogunmola revealed that Oba Owoade had confirmed the attendance of these dignitaries to the LOC, reports Nigerian Tribune.
The list of dignitaries expected at the occasion, according to the LOC Chairman, includes ambassadors from Spain, Brazil, Colombia, and Portugal.
The coronation has been scheduled for April 5, with week-long activities commencing on March 31.
Trudeau’s attendance may be connected to the fact that Oba Owoade holds dual citizenship of Canada and Nigeria.
Coronation activities will begin with a cultural parade in the town on Monday, 31 March, and conclude with a Christian thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 6.
There will be a public lecture/colloquium on Tuesday, anchored by Professors Anthony Asiwaju, Akin Alao, and Siyan Oyeweso.
Thursday will feature a command performance of Aremo Aderonmu (a stage play written by Gbemi Faleti) at Ajayi Crowther University.
While the actual coronation is slated for Saturday, there will be historic tree planting on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday will be Cultural Heritage Day, and several projects will be inaugurated in honour of the new monarch.
Ogunmola also disclosed that top traditional rulers, such as the Ooni of Ife, the Oba of Benin, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Yoruba monarchs from outside the country, are expected to attend the ceremony.
He revealed that adequate security measures are being planned to ensure the safety of lives and property during the ceremony.
