The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has conferred its prestigious “Icon of Ibadan Heritage” award on Mr Olatunji Muhammed Oladejo, mnipr, JP, MANUPA, in recognition of his decades of selfless service to Ibadanland and his steadfast defence of the city’s interests, in a release by Prince Kola Amoo Adelakin, the Secretary of The Progressive Forum, Ibadan (TPFI), which Oladejo now leads.
The grand conferment ceremony took place on Thursday, 16 April 2026, at the Ibadan Business Dinner 2026, a flagship event of the 2026 Annual Ibadan Cultural Festival, held at the Dr Omololu Olunloyo Park, Airport Junction, Alakia, Ibadan. The event was attended by eminent dignitaries; members of the CCII Executive Council, members of The Progressive Forum, Ibadan (TPFI) and Traditional Chiefs, including Oloye Abiola Iyiola, Are-Onibon Olubadan of Ibadanland, who served as the Chairman of the occasion.
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Presenting the award, the President-General of CCII, Barrister Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, Aare Atunluse of Ibadanland, stated, “Oladejo has done so much and so well for CCII and Ibadanland, even before I, as the President-General, started associating with the activities of CCII when meetings were being held at Mapo. This man has provided us with books to support the Dosu Babatunde Library at the Ibadan House, Oke Aremo. He always stands up for Ibadan’s interests at the University of Ibadan, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and elsewhere in Nigeria. He has done so much for the advancement of the society, including organising community events and advocating for educational resources that benefit local students. Even the award is long overdue”.
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“One thing about Oladejo is that even if you want to kill him, he will write and discuss his view, providing a balanced position. He is never afraid; he is too courageous. We must celebrate him. Today, we are celebrating him with this award”.
Responding on behalf of the honouree, one of his mentees, Mogaji Dr. Nurudeen Akinade; Mogaji Onilari Compound, Oopoyeosa, Ibadan, who now lectures at the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, after a stint at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, said, “Oga Oladejo is humble in mentoring many of us who are now successful scholars, community leaders, successful businessmen, serial entrepreneurs and professionals, some of whom are now professors. He likes to work behind the scene so that we can have the limelight, often providing guidance and support without seeking recognition for himself. He has supported CCII over the years with books, which have contributed significantly to the resources available for research and education in the community, including textbooks and reference materials that have enhanced the learning experience for students and researchers alike.
“To do his bidding, we, his mentees and friends, are now raising one million naira to institute a prize to be domiciled at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, for the best PhD thesis on Ibadan heritage, like the one I won recently at FUTA. The prize, to be tagged the Olatunji Muhammed Oladejo (OMO) Prize for the Best PhD Thesis on Ibadan Heritage, is to be awarded annually”.
“The goal is to raise ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira) as seed money. The principal sum will be invested by the University of Ibadan, and the annual interest will fund the prize for the best doctoral research that advances knowledge of Ibadan’s history, culture, institutions and development. This way, the honour lives beyond a day and nurtures scholars for generations”.
In a symbolic gesture, Mr. Oladejo immediately handed over the award plaque to Comrade Barr. Olu Abiala, a prominent member of the Ibadan Action Council (IAC) and former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State, whom he described as representing “all those who made him whatever he becomes in Ibadanland”.
Visibly moved, Comrade Abiala responded, “I respect him for providing quality leadership for The Progressive Forum, Ibadan (TPFI) and he defers to better ideas than his, saying that all his friends and mentees must support what he wants at the University of Ibadan. I love his writings on Ibadanland, which he always shares with me before publication. ‘Comrade, mi o ni jo ara mi loju,’ he would write to me. Through his writings, he has challenged my intellectual curiosity, prompting me to explore new ideas and perspectives that I had not considered before. I attend this event because of my love for him. Then, see what he has done that he is “nobody”. Simply, Oladejo is deep, humble and simple. More honours are still coming”.
Mr. Olatunji Muhammad Oladejo is widely regarded for his courage, intellectual clarity and institutional loyalty. From his advocacy for Ibadan’s interests at the University of Ibadan and UCH, and elsewhere to his book donations to the Dosu Babatunde Library and his role in mentoring generations of scholars and professionals, his imprint on Ibadan’s civic and intellectual life is indelible.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Mr. Oladejo said the honour came with mixed emotions as he was mourning the passing of Alhaja Tawakalitu Siyanbade, wife of the Secretary of the Oyo State Muslim Community, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, whom he regarded as a sister who passed on a few hours before the event. The late Alhaja Siyanbade was intimately involved in his pre-wedding preparations with Nikah in 1995, and she remained close to his family, particularly his wife. He offered prayers that Allah would overlook her faults, brighten her grave and admit her to Aljanah Firdaus.
Also speaking on the sidelines, Deacon Ademola Alabi, anipr, JP, former CCII Public Relations Officer and Chairman of the 2026 Ibadan Conference Sub-Committee of the Ibadan Cultural Festival (ICF) in honour of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, recalled: “We decided to make Oga a member of the sub-committee, but he disagreed. He said he would function better as an adviser—and that is exactly what he did, opening his office for most of our strategic meetings. And we succeeded”.
“Oga has a way of asking, ‘Ademola, can we do it this way?’ His tone is humble, yet you feel compelled to act. We have not celebrated him enough. He taught us what it means to be truly Ibadan. I have to be here today, no matter what, to celebrate him.
“Please ensure that any letter addressed to him includes ‘Mr.’ as the prefix to his name. He prefers it that way. Any letter otherwise, he will simply set it aside, saying, ‘This person doesn’t know me.’. He won’t even attend the event if you don’t put ‘Mr.’ before his name. All his secretaries — past and present — know the drill. It’s a rule of thumb. Why he does that, I don’t know.
“For me, he remains humble, and that is why we honoured him as our Founding Adviser of the Legacy Stars, Ibadan (LSI) at our 20th Anniversary last year at the Jogor Event Centre, Ibadan. He continues to stand by all of us at LSI as if we were his biological children”.
The CCII noted that the “Icon of Ibadan Heritage” award is reserved for indigenous people whose contributions to the city’s history, culture and development are exemplary and enduring.
