By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia Reporter
A SIGNIFICANT announcement resonated through the halls of the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour in Abeokuta, Ogun State, amidst the grand celebration of the 90th birthday and 64th coronation anniversary of the revered Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona,
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun seized the moment to unveil an ambitious plan that aims to transform governance education in the region.
In a move set to bridge academia and practical governance, Abiodun revealed plans to affiliate the Oba Sikiru Adetona College of Governance with the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), situated in Kuru, Jos, in his believe that this strategic alignment is poised to enhance the caliber of leadership training within the state.
The governor articulated his vision, signaling intentions to enroll Permanent Secretaries from Ogun State as the inaugural students of this pioneering initiative.
Emphasizing the college’s genesis as a brainchild of the esteemed Awujale, the governor expressed gratitude for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement, granting the College full campus status under NIPSS.
In a heartfelt tribute to Oba Adetona, Governor Abiodun hailed the monarch as a “living legend” and a “phenomenon,” extolling his enduring legacy in governance and education, positioning the establishment of the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance as a beacon for leadership development across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Delivering a sermon titled “Serve the Lord with Gladness,” Reverend Dr. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo emphasized the virtues of humility and integrity in service and called for a nationwide revival, commencing from the grassroots level, as he also commended Oba Adetona as a unifying force whose reign has propelled substantial progress in Ijebuland.
The Awujale’s stewardship was lauded as transformative, with descriptors of mentorship and empowerment punctuating the accolades as Ijebuland commemorates 64 years of Oba Adetona’s reign, describing it as the narrative of exemplary leadership and impactful governance that continues to resonate, setting a profound precedent for generations to come.
