Olora of Ora, Ifelodun local government, Kwara State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Aremu Yekini has disclosed how his accession to the throne has not only ensured unity in the hitherto divided community but also heralded a new era of development.
Recall that Oba Rilwan Aremu Yekini was appointed as Olora of Ora Kingdom by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in March this year while his coronation ceremony was held on May 31, 2026.
Noting that Ora has been in existence since 15th century and currently has 32 tributary towns, Oba Rilwan added that since his ascension to the throne, he has ensured that unity returns to the town that had gotten badly divided to the extent of having the Muslims performing separate Jumat prayers and eid prayers at the same venue for 16 consecutive years ditto the annual Ora Day which had often resulted in violent scenes.
‘The good news is that everyone prayed at the same venue during the last eid and the same thing has happened in respect of Jumah prayer which is commendable’ he said.
Oba Rilwan Aremu Yekini, who said this during his visit to Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin on Monday, also urged indigenes of Ora in Diaspora to return home, invest and support ongoing renewed efforts to attract development to the town.
He also described the ongoing Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate project in Ora as signs of heralding an era of development.
The Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate project is a 5,000-hectare agricultural hub driven by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).
The monarch expressed happiness that the project is progressing without a pause or delay while also noting that those who are interested in visiting tourist site or tapping into tourism potential can visit Oke Agbonna in Ora. .
Oba Rilwan Aremu Yekini not only promised maximum support for Jimoh Babalola University but also noted that he has become the institution’s important stakeholder and ambassador.
Praising the infrastructure presence at the university, he also said it is a source of elation for him that the Founder and Chairman of the institution, Alhaji Jimoh Kazeem Babalola is an indigene of Ora.
Also speaking, Prince Modibbo Sulu-Gambari disclosed that he met Oba Rilwan Yekini 17 years ago when the monarch visited his office to show concern and discuss the unity, development and progress of Ora with the Emir of Ilorin, His Eminence, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
He praised Oba Rilwan Yekini’s unwavering commitment to the development, growth and progress of Ora town noting that he had for years now been passionate about this without knowing that he will become the traditional ruler of the town in March this year.
Giving his speech, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Jimoh Babalola University (JBU), Ilorin, Alhaji Jimoh Kazeem Babalola, who is also the Founder of Babalola Academy College of Health Technology (BACHT), thanked the monarch for the visit noting that although his father, Alhaji Jimoh Adisa, who was the Imam of Budoloke, is dead, he is however happy that there are a good number of people who are ready to play ‘fatherly role’ and support his vision.
Having his town’s monarch at the university, he noted, shows that the whole Ora town is in support of the university project cognizant that Oba Rilwan Yekini is ‘our father’.
He also noted that Oba Rilwan Yekini’s ascension to the throne has heralded a new era of development while commending him for prioritizing the wellbeing of his subjects and coordinating all indigenes to work toward a common goal.
He also specially thanked Prince Moddibo Sulu-Gambari and Alhaji Yusuf Amuda Ajia for their unflinching support.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor M.A Ijaiya said Monday, June 22, 2026, is a milestone in the history of the institution because Oba Rilwan Aremu was accompanied by a prince from Ilorin, Prince Moddibo Zulu-Gambari which implied that the Emir of Ilorin was also present.
He congratulated Oba Rilwan Yekini for having one of his subjects as owner of a university noting that establishing a university is a big achievement because it is time consuming and capital intensive.
Professor Ijaiya also praised Alhaji Jimoh Kazeem Babalola’s commitment to building a better society through quality education noting that taking the dream of establishing a university to fruition requires being self-disciplined and prudent.
He disclosed that Alhaji Kazeem Babalola mooted the idea of establishing the university in 2023 and it was eventually approved by the Federal Government on August 3, 2025, while the operational certificate and provisional license were received in November 2025.
Students according to him arrived on campus on January 9, 2026, while they began to take lectures on January 16.
The university, he added, currently offers courses that include Nursing Science, Computer Science, Public Health Science, Information Technology and Environmental Science.
Asserting that the institution has the potential to grow, he also noted that the visit by the monarch, who he called ‘a handsome oba’, is a ‘royal endorsement’ which will spur the university’s growth.
The university has also disclosed plans to establish one of its satellite campuses in Ora with the monarch promising maximum support in this regard..
Team@orientactualmags.com reports that Oba Rilwan Yekini’s royal entourage include Olokan of Ora, Chief Fatahi Odesile, Balogun Asubiaro of Ora, Chief Tajudeen Garuba, Alato of Ora, Chief Akeem Adenloba, Aare Sakonbari of Ora, Chief Yinusa Afolayan, Aro Sakonbari of Ora, Chief Abdulfatahi Afolayan, Jagunmolu of Ora, Chief Raheem Odesile and Secretary, Olora of Ora’s palace, Comrade J.T Adeniran-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
