The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, the paramount traditional ruler of the ancient Oyo Empire in southwestern Nigeria, is set to confer the revered chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at a formal installation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, December 21, 2025.
The same event will also witness the installation of Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria and the current Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, as the Obaloyin of Yorubaland, according to details contained in an official event flier circulated on social media platforms on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Okay News reports that the flier, jointly issued by the Alaafin and his wife, Ayaba Abiwumi Owoade, formally invited members of the public, traditional leaders, and stakeholders across Yorubaland to attend the ceremony, urging invitees to reserve the date for what is expected to be a high-profile cultural gathering.
The title Okanlomo of Yorubaland, a deeply symbolic honor within Yoruba tradition, translates to “the one dear to the hearts of all Yoruba people” or “beloved child.” The designation is traditionally associated with affection, loyalty, and perceived contributions to the cultural and social advancement of the Yoruba ethnic group, one of Africa’s largest ethnic nationalities, predominantly located in southwestern Nigeria.
Confirming the development in a telephone interview on Wednesday, the Alaafin’s Media Aide, Bode Durojaiye, said preparations for the installation were already underway and that the palace would soon issue an official press statement to provide additional details.
“Yes, it is true. The Alaafin of Oyo wants to install Seyi Tinubu as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland and Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari as the Obaloyin of Yorubaland. The press statement on the said event would be made available today or anytime soon,” Durojaiye stated.
The forthcoming ceremony comes against the backdrop of recent debates surrounding Yoruba traditional titles, following an earlier development in which the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the spiritual head of the Yoruba people and monarch of Ile-Ife in Osun State, bestowed the title of Okanlomo of Oodua on Dotun Sanusi, an Ibadan-born philanthropist and the Bada Olubadan-designate.
That earlier conferment sparked a brief supremacy dispute between the two prominent Yoruba monarchs, a disagreement that was eventually resolved through the intervention of respected regional stakeholders and cultural leaders.
More recently, the Ooni of Ife also conferred the chieftaincy title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua on Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady and wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a ceremony held at the Ooni’s Palace Square in Ile-Ife.
The ceremony coincided with celebrations marking Oba Ogunwusi’s tenth coronation anniversary and attracted an array of distinguished guests, including Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri; the Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria’s highest Islamic authority; and Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, alongside numerous traditional rulers and cultural figures from across Nigeria.
The title Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua holds deep historical significance, having previously been held by Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, wife of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a revered Nigerian nationalist, statesman, and one of the architects of Nigeria’s independence.
The upcoming installation in Oyo is expected to further highlight the enduring influence of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s socio-political landscape, where cultural authority continues to intersect with contemporary governance and national identity.
