ABEOKUTA – A lawyer and a prince of Ijebu land, Olawale Adeyemi-Oriola, has stressed the importance of knowledge-driven traditional leadership.
He said the next Awujale must combine respect for age-old customs with the skills required to navigate contemporary governance, economic development, and cultural preservation.
Prince Oriola said the Awujale of the present era must be more than a ceremonial figure.
He emphasised that the role increasingly requires arbitration, strategic counsel, economic coordination, and policy engagement with government and global partners.
“Ijebu tradition has always valued wisdom, restraint, and service. But today’s Awujale must also understand how institutions work, how to attract development, manage relationships, and protect the long-term interests of the people,” he told reporters.
Prince Oriola, a member of the Olufadi/Obanlefa branch of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, described himself as a son of Ijebu whose life has been shaped by deep ancestral roots, rigorous education, and high-trust professional responsibility.
“I hold an Executive LL.M. in Securities and Financial Law from Georgetown University Law Center and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law, where I earned the New York State Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section’s Kenneth G. Standard Award. Earlier, I studied Economics, Finance, and English Literature at the City University of New York (Lehman College) as a Starr Foundation Full Tuition Scholar. My formative educational experiences also include graduating from Ijebu-Ode Grammar School.”
He is a Senior Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he advises leading global financial institutions like JP Morgan, Blackstone, BlackRock, and HPS on governance, compliance, and risk management. He also previously served as Senior Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., contributing to major national regulations, including fiduciary duty rules, investor protection reforms, and ESG disclosure initiatives, work for which he received multiple Chairman’s Awards.
According to him, these experiences directly mirror the traditional functions of kingship in Ijebuland.
“The Awujale must listen carefully, balance competing interests, uphold fairness, and safeguard communal assets. These are the same principles that guide my professional life”, he said.
Prince Oriola added that he is a partner at The Adomi Group, which is involved in advisory, fintech facilitation, and development initiatives across Africa, including discussions around hospitality and cultural-tourism investments in the Ijebu area.
He emphasized that his vision for Ijebuland includes economic growth, full electrification, youth empowerment, achieving Ijebu statehood, and global promotion of Ijebu culture, while respecting all religious beliefs and fully supporting Isese traditions.
Prince Oriola added that his aspiration is not rooted in noise or self-promotion, but in long preparation and readiness to serve.
“Ijebu has always chosen leaders carefully. My commitment is to serve with competence, humility, and loyalty to our traditions, so that the Awujale stool remains a symbol of dignity, unity, and progress.”
