8144: A CELEBRATION OF DESTINY, DIGNITY & DISTINCTION
A Birthday Tribute & Royal Felicitation to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa I), the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
On this rare and remarkable occasion, where age 81 gracefully meets Royal Seat 44, we pause with reverence, admiration, and overflowing joy to pay glowing tribute to a man whose life is an unfolding epic of destiny fulfilled — a man who has defied odds, silenced traducers, and written his name boldly across history’s golden pages.
Today, we do not just celebrate your birthday; we celebrate the extraordinary phenomenon that you are. We celebrate a trailblazer, a statesman, a businessman par excellence, a political tactician and now, by divine orchestration, the imperial crown upon the ancestral throne of Ibadanland. “*8144”* is more than a coincidence — it is destiny’s stamp, the signature of providence.
Your Imperial Majesty, your journey is not just a biography — it is an institution. You stand tall as the first son of Ibadan to have served as a Senator of the Federal Republic, Governor of Oyo State, and now Olubadan of the great Ibadanland — a triumvirate of influence, leadership, and legacy never before seen in the annals of Ibadan or Yorubaland. This is unprecedented. Unparalleled. Undeniable.
From the boardrooms of industry where you excelled as a business mogul of sterling repute, to the political arena where you governed with integrity, vision, and courage, to this sacred stool where you now reign with ancestral authority — you have remained undaunted, principled, and focused, regardless of storms or schemes.
Yours is a life that has turned trials into triumph, betrayals into badges of honor, and opposition into opportunities for greater purpose. Truly, a man of destiny — forged by the fires of experience, adorned with the crown of divine timing.
Your wisdom is not merely acquired from books or institutions; it is deeply rooted in Yoruba native intelligence — that rare, instinctive genius that cannot be taught, only inherited and refined. You possess a mind both astute and analytical, a heart disciplined yet compassionate, and a tongue eloquent yet discerning.
Your words carry weight because they are backed by decades of lived experience. Your silence speaks even louder — reminding us all that true strength lies in restraint, not noise. You lead not from the front for fame, but from the top with foresight.
As you wear this crown, may your reign be long, luminous, and legendary. We pray that you bring your wealth of knowledge, political sagacity, cultural rootedness, and spiritual wisdom to bear upon not just the affairs of Ibadan, but on the wider Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.
At a time when traditional institutions need unity, dignity, and relevance, may your reign be a balm that heals, a bridge that unites, and a beacon that guides.
May peace rain and reign in Ibadanland, Oyo State, Yoruba Nation and Nigeria at large.
May harmony blossom among the traditional rulers of Yorubaland during your reign.
May your voice be the stabilizing force our land longs for.
May God strengthen you with Solomonic wisdom, divine health, and unshakable peace.
Kabiyesi, Kade pe lori, ki bata pe lese!
May your days be long, your reign be prosperous, and your name be immortal.
May your enemies stumble while your path shines brighter.
May your lineage flourish and your legacy endure.
*From the National Board for Technology Incubation and from the depth of my heart, I say … Happy 81st Birthday, Your Imperial Majesty! Igba odun, odun kan ni o!
Congratulations on your Royal Installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland!
Long Live Oba Ladoja, Arusa I !
Long Live Ibadanland !
Long Live Oyo State !
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria !
Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, FCIPM-UK, FPMA-UK
Director General/CEO, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)
