Following the emergence of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the 51st Ooni of Ife, attention has shifted to the man who is set to occupy one of the most revered traditional stools in Yorubaland.
Prince Ogunwusi hails from the Giesi Ruling House of Ile-Ife and emerged as the successor to the late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who passed away in London on July 28, 2015.
Early Life And Family
About 40 years ago, in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was born into the Giesi Ruling House at the Ojaja Royal Compound in Agbedegbede, Ile-Ife.
He was born to Prince Ropo Ogunwusi and the late Mrs Margaret Wuraola Ogunwusi of the Ile Opa family compound in Ile-Ife.
His father was a radio and television presenter whose career spanned several years in the South-Western part of Nigeria.
From an early age, Ogunwusi reportedly showed a strong interest in business and enterprise, eventually developing interests across real estate, construction, manufacturing and tourism.
Business And Professional Career
Before his emergence as the Ooni-designate, Prince Ogunwusi had built a business career spanning several sectors.
According to his profile, he had been involved in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects in Nigeria and abroad for more than 12 years.
He had also participated in the development of thousands of housing units through various partnerships and development companies.
His business interests also extended to trade and investment facilitation. He was associated with the Association for International Business (AIB), an organisation established to facilitate international business relationships.
One of the initiatives attributed to the organisation was the facilitation of trade discussions between interests in the United Arab Emirates, including the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, and the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission.
Ogunwusi was also involved in business and investment initiatives relating to Ondo State.
He participated in a government delegation to Canada in connection with discussions on the state’s solid mineral resources, including bitumen, dimension stones and granite.
His business profile also included involvement in projects relating to steel, mining and industrial development.
Among the projects associated with him were the Sparkwest Steel Galvanizing Plant, National Iron Ore Mining Company Limited and the resuscitation of the Jakura Mines project.
Real Estate And Property Development
Real estate has remained one of the major areas of Prince Ogunwusi’s business interests.
He was involved in several property developments in Lagos and other parts of the country, including projects around Lekki, Yaba and Ajah.
He also initiated EssentialHomes, a real estate product launched in January 2014 with a focus on providing housing to middle- and lower-income earners.
The first phase, Southpointe Estate on Lafiaji Road, Lekki, Lagos, was launched in 2014. His profile also listed involvement in the development of Northpoint Estate Phases I, II and III and Midland Court on Chevron Drive, Lekki.
Other projects associated with him included Jacob Mews Estate in Yaba, Lakeview Park I and II in Lekki, Golden Leaf Estate in Lafiaji, Lekki, and Grand Lake Estate in Ajah.
Inagbe Grand Resorts
Another major project linked to Prince Ogunwusi was the Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure project in Lagos.
The development, located on Inagbe Island, was conceived as a major tourism and leisure destination.
According to his profile, the project involved opening up previously undeveloped areas of the island and creating facilities aimed at promoting tourism and recreational activities.
Ogunwusi had also expressed plans to replicate aspects of the development in Ile-Ife, with the broader objective of contributing to the development of his hometown.
Community Development
Beyond his business interests, the Ooni-designate has also been associated with community development projects.
His profile states that he supported the provision of electricity infrastructure in his community in Ile-Ife, including transformers and electricity poles.
He was also involved in a road project in the Lafiaji community around the Lekki-Epe area of Lagos, where a road stretching several kilometres was reportedly opened up and reconstructed.
His philanthropic activities also included support for young people and less privileged children through scholarships and other forms of assistance.
Employment And Youth Development
Prince Ogunwusi’s business interests have also provided employment opportunities for young people.
At the time of his emergence as Ooni-designate, his profile stated that he employed hundreds of people directly across his various businesses, with several others benefiting indirectly.
He was also associated with the Inagbe Cocowood Factory, an EssentialHomes furniture brand which focused on the use of locally sourced materials.
Board And Professional Appointments
Ogunwusi was also listed as a director on the board of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, formerly GTHomes.
He was also associated with FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited, a financial institution focused on small businesses and micro-credit services.
He was the Founder and Managing Director of Gran Imperio Group, a business group with interests in real estate and construction, manufacturing, facilities management, leisure and tourism.
Education And Professional Affiliations
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
His profile also listed him as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an Associate Accounting Technician and a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), Nigeria.
He was also associated with the Global Real Estate Institute (GRI), having participated in its activities and programmes.
Royal And Business Partnerships
Over the years, Ogunwusi had also worked with a number of traditional rulers on business and development projects.
Among those listed in his profile were Oba Saheed Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate Land; the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Oba Oyekan, the Onilado of Ilado; Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, the Oranmiyan Osile of Egba Land; Oba Oloruntoyin Saliu, the Oloworo of Oworonsoki; and Oba Akinloye, the Ojomu of Ajiran Land.
His profile also mentioned a business relationship with the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi, in connection with commodity trading and merchandising.
His Connection With Ile-Ife
For a man who had spent considerable time building businesses outside his hometown, Ogunwusi had continued to maintain a strong connection with Ile-Ife.
He was recognised in March 2015 with the NIDSA Gold Award during the Ife Day celebration organised by the National Ife Descendants Students’ Association.
His supporters have also pointed to his interest in youth development, job creation and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife.
With his emergence as the 51st Ooni, these interests are now expected to take on a new dimension as he prepares to assume the responsibilities attached to the ancient throne.
Family
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is married and has a daughter who, according to the profile available at the time, had graduated from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
He is the fifth child of his parents. His siblings are Abimbola, Adetunji, Folasade, Adesola and Adebimpe.
From a businessman with interests across several sectors to the man selected to occupy the revered throne of Ile-Ife, Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s emergence represents a major new chapter in the history of the ancient kingdom.
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