Igbile Kingdom Makes History as First-Ever Onigbile Awaits Presentation of Staff of Office
By: Abudu Olalekan
History has been made in Igbile Kingdom, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, following the Ogun State Government’s approval of the Staff of Office for His Royal Highness, Oba Jaun Medu Kolawole Abdus-Salam, the first-ever Onigbile of Igbile Kingdom.
The approval, granted on July 30, 2026, completed all statutory processes for the formal recognition of the monarch. The official presentation of the Staff of Office has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
The historic development came as the kingdom celebrated Ifobu Agemo Day on Saturday, August 1, one of the major events of the annual Agemo Festival. The community was filled with excitement as indigenes, traditional chiefs and visitors gathered to celebrate their rich cultural heritage while looking forward to the formal installation of their first traditional ruler.
A Historic First for Igbile
Contrary to common assumptions, Igbile Kingdom has never had a crowned king in its history. Leadership of the community had traditionally rested with the Oloja of Igbile, who also serves as the custodian of the revered Agemo deity and oversees the kingdom’s traditional religious and cultural affairs.
In a historic move, the people of Igbile resolved to establish a royal institution that would provide a traditional monarch for the kingdom while preserving the important role of the Oloja in matters relating to the Agemo tradition.
The Journey to the Throne
The campaign to establish the Onigbile stool gained momentum during a visit to the late Awujale, His Royal Highness Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (Ogbagba ll), when prominent sons of Igbile presented their request to the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland. They sought approval for Igbile to have its own monarch for the first time in its history.
The late Awujale endorsed the request and directed the people of Igbile to begin the process of selecting a king.
Following consultations, two candidates emerged. Oba Jaun Medu Kolawole Abdus-Salam, now Adekogbe, Gbadewolu, Koseleri and Ilufemiloye, was eventually selected as the preferred candidate and the overwhelming choice of the people.
The Ogun State Government subsequently completed all statutory procedures and approved the Staff of Office on July 30, 2026, paving the way for the formal presentation ceremony.
A New Era Begins
The presentation of the Staff of Office on August 4 is expected to attract government officials, traditional rulers, dignitaries, sons and daughters of Igbile, and well-wishers from across Ogun State.
For the people of Igbile, the event marks more than the installation of a monarch. It represents the birth of a new chapter in the kingdom’s history and the emergence of Oba Jaun Medu Kolawole Abdus-Salam as the first-ever Onigbile of Igbile Kingdom.
As celebrations from this year’s Ifobu Agemo Festival continue, anticipation is building for what many residents describe as a defining moment that will shape the kingdom’s traditional and cultural identity for generations to come.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
