Oba Ladoja, who clocked 82 on Friday, September 25, 2026, spent the significant period in Saudi Arabia, choosing an atmosphere of worship and spiritual reflection over the elaborate celebrations that often accompany milestone birthdays.
His presence around the Kaaba on Saturday, September 26, coincided with the first anniversary of his coronation as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, giving the historic occasion a distinctly spiritual character.
During the Umrah, the monarch offered prayers for the peace, progress and prosperity of Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria, seeking divine guidance and blessings for the people he leads.
The development further underscored the unusual manner in which the monarch has chosen to mark both milestones, as his 82nd birthday and first year on the throne have largely been defined by prayers, thanksgiving and acts of concern for others rather than pomp and pageantry.
Oba Ladoja had earlier appealed to his subjects, friends and well-wishers to avoid extravagant celebrations in his honour and instead direct their goodwill towards prayers and support for people in need.
Adding colour to the monarch’s spiritual journey was the presence of a prominent Ibadan businessman and Islamic figure, Engr. Abduljelil Adekunle Karheem, MCIArb, MCIOB, MCABE, the Afia Group Chief Executive Officer, Mogaji of the Adanla Family of Ibadan, Turaki Adinni of Oyo State, Wakil Faido Tijaniyyah of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, and Giwa Adinni of Offa.
Mogaji Adanla was among those sighted with the Olubadan in the vicinity of the Kaaba, sharing in the sacred atmosphere surrounding the monarch’s latest Umrah.
His presence also adds a significant Ibadan dimension to the monarch’s Holy Land journey, given his prominent position in the city’s business, traditional and Islamic circles.
Other prominent personalities sighted with the Olubadan include Prince Shola Ladoja and Mogaji M. Gbadeyanka.
For many Ibadan indigenes and residents, the symbolism is striking: while the ancient city observes its monarch’s first year on the throne, Oba Ladoja is thousands of kilometres away, standing in one of Islam’s holiest places and praying for the wellbeing of the people of Ibadanland.
The occasion therefore combines two major milestones in the life of the monarch — his 82nd birthday and his first anniversary on the Olubadan throne — with an intensely personal act of worship.
Rather than turning the occasions into a season of festivities, Oba Ladoja has used them to emphasise gratitude, prayer and service, in keeping with his earlier appeal for his subjects to remember the less privileged.
His latest Umrah has consequently given the anniversary an uncommon dimension, with the Olubadan choosing the sacred precincts of Makkah as the setting for prayers at a defining moment in his reign.
As the monarch continues his spiritual journey, his prayers for Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria have become a central part of the commemoration, linking his personal milestones with hopes for peace, stability and prosperity across the communities he holds dear.
For Ibadan, the image of the Olubadan at the Kaaba on the first anniversary of his coronation provides a memorable conclusion to a birthday and anniversary season marked less by celebration and more by devotion, reflection and prayers for the people.
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