The Alaafin Coronation Local Organising Committee (LOC) has released the programme of event for the coronation of Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
The chairman of the LOC, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, made the programme public during a recent press briefing held in Oyo.
He said the three-phase programme included pre-coronation, coronation and post-coronation events, noting that it will run from Monday, 31 March to Saturday, 12 April, 2025 and as follows:
Monday, 31 March: Cultural carnival parade (7:30am to 10am) at Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium Ode Aremo. Exhibitions follow each day from Monday, 31 March till Friday, 4 April.
Tuesday, 1 April: Historic tree planting, Phase 1 (8am-11am); Public lecture/colloquium at Atiba University Campus, Gedu Oyo by Professors Anthony Asiwaju, Akin Alao and Siyan Oyeweso (4pm-6:30pm)
Wednesday 2 April: Historic tree planting, Phase 2 (8am-11am); Coronation Quiz Competition @ Federal School of Surveying Historic (1pm-3:30pm).
Thursday, 3 April: Historic tree planting, Phase 3 (8am-11am); Commissioning of Hon Prince Akeem’s projects in Alaafin Akeem Abimbola Owoade’s name; Final coronation football competition (2-3pm).
Friday, 4 April: Oyo Cultural Heritage Day @ Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium Ode Aremo (10am–3pm); Command Performance of Aremo Aderonmu (a stage-play written by Gbemi Faleti) at Ajayi Crowther University (5pm).
Saturday, 5 April: Main coronation events @ Olivet Baptist Height and entertainment, holding simultaneously at 10 different locations, including:
Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo Field, exclusively reserved for the state governor, his entourage and other VIP dignitaries. It will also serve as the car park for dignitaries in this category;
Ladigbolu Grammar School, Oyo Field, a 5,000 capacity space; Labamba Hotel expected to accommodate 1,000 VIPs; AUD Primary School, Alagbon/ Owode;
Methodist Primary School, Apaara, opposite Durbar Police Station, L A Town School Saabo; N A. Town School, Isale Oyo; Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium, Ode Aremo, opposite Central Mosque; ADS Primary School Agunpopo, Oyo and the Old Oyo National Park.
Sunday, 6 April: Coronation Thanksgiving Service (Christian) at St Michael Anglican Cathedral, Esinele (11am-1pm).
Wednesday, 9 April: Isure ati idupe fún Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade by Orisa Worshippers at Esu Akesan Shrine, Akesan, Oyo (10 am).
Friday, 11 April: Special Coronation Thanksgiving Jumat Prayer at the Central Mosque, Oja (1:30pm)
Saturday, 12 April: Special Coronation Thanksgiving Service of the Isese/Orisa Worshippers @ Ijo Ifa Adimula, Ola Compound, Oke Apo, Oyo (10am).
Guests expected at the coronation of Oba Owoade as the 46th Alaafin included the immediate past Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and ambassadors of nine countries to Nigeria.
Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Olu of Warri, Oba Ogiame Atuwatse III, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, among others, will lead prominent traditional rulers from within the country and the Republic of Benin to the event.
The LOC chairman and its two other members, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Alaafin, Mr Rotimi Osuntola and the Mogaji of the Owoade Family, Mogaji Rasheed Adediwura Owoade, reassured of a hitch-free coronation ceremony.
“We are aware of the fact that a lot of people coming for the event will also be interested in moving round town and also visit the Palace. The impression will be a lasting impression on them.
“Therefore, adequate measures have been put in place to ensure safety of lives and property. More so, the event will be watched live at all the 10 different locations listed above.
“This is to prevent any form of stampede at the main venue as nobody present, irrespective of his or her socio-economic statuses, would be left out of the new Alaafin of Oyo,” Dr Ogunmola further assured.
