By Peter Dansu Badagry-born Lagos State governorship hopeful and Lead Pioneer of the SMA Foundation, His Excellency Samuel Mauyon Ajose, wa...
By Peter Dansu
Badagry-born Lagos State governorship hopeful and Lead Pioneer of the SMA Foundation, His Excellency Samuel Mauyon Ajose, was among prominent dignitaries who joined the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to celebrate activities marking the monarch’s 10th Coronation Anniversary in December 2025.
The week-long celebration attracted traditional rulers, political leaders, captains of industry and international guests, highlighting the Ooni’s decade of purposeful traditional leadership anchored on Yoruba unity, cultural renaissance and development. One of the major highlights was the installation of Ghana’s former President, John Dramani Mahama, as Aare Atayeto Oodua, a symbolic move that further strengthened transnational Yoruba ties across Africa and the diaspora.
Another landmark moment was the official launch of the Ojaja University campus in Ile-Ife, underscoring the monarch’s strong belief in education as a key driver of societal progress. The Ooni has also continued to play strategic roles in economic development, including his widely acknowledged intervention that helped Aliko Dangote resolve traditional constraints at a project site, paving the way for factory construction and job creation.
Ajose’s presence at the anniversary and related engagements reflected the depth of his network and influence within Nigeria and beyond. Through the SMA Foundation, he has sustained strong relationships with traditional institutions, development partners and global stakeholders, earning a reputation as a bridge between grassroots aspirations and international opportunities.
Political observers say such high-level interactions reinforce perceptions of Ajose as a well-connected leader with a broad and inclusive development vision. In Badagry, there is growing optimism and pride that one of its sons is being mentioned in conversations around the 2027 Lagos State governorship, raising hopes for stronger representation and impact at the state level.
Beyond the festivities, the Ooni’s 10th Coronation Anniversary served as a convergence point for traditional authority, emerging political leadership and development-focused actors shaping the future of Lagos State and the wider Yoruba nation.
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