Oba Abimbola Owoade has been officially crowned as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
He succeeds the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the 45th Alaafin of Oyo, who passed away on April 22, 2022, at the age of 83.
Born 47 years ago into the prominent and royal Owoade-Agunloye family in Oyo Town, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I is the son of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade from Agure Compound in the ancient city of Oyo.
Oba Owoade completed his secondary education at Baptist High School in Saki.
His father worked with the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme (ONADEP), contributing to the agricultural development of the Oke-Ogun Community.
Oba Owoade pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering, earning his National Diploma at Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, from 1994 to 1997, and his Higher National Diploma at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, from 1999 to 2001.
He completed his NYSC service in 2002, working as a Mechanical Intern/Planner with Nigeria Gas Company. From 2003 to 2004, he worked as a Cashier at Oceanic Bank International Plc in Warri.
He attended the University of Sunderland in 2008 and Northumbria University in 2012, where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering.
In June 2015, he became certified in Project Management (PMP holder). He worked as a Planning Engineer at Oil Reach Company in Glasgow, United Kingdom, for several years before relocating to Canada.
Prior to assuming the royal title, Oba Owoade I served as the Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, one of Canada’s largest electric power and natural gas utility providers.
He is both a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the president of Manitoba Limited. Additionally, he owns a real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.