Oba Sijuade recieved his staff of office

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On this day, 1980 The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, received his Staff of Office.

 Sijuwade was born on 1 January 1930 in Ile-Ife to the Ogboru ruling house, grandson of the Ooni 
Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I. He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife. 
He worked for three years in his father's business, then for two years with the Nigerian Tribune, before attending Northampton College in the United Kingdom to study business management. By the age of 30 he was a manager in Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In 1963 he became Sales Director of the state-owned National Motor in Lagos. After spotting a business opportunity during a 1964 visit to the Soviet Union, he formed a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a widespread business empire. He also invested in real estate in his home town of Ile Ife. By the time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in 1980 he had become a wealthy man.
Sijuwade is a Christian. In November 2009 he attended the annual general meeting of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. He declared that he a was full member of the church, and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members. At his birthday celebration two months later, the Primate of the Anglican Communion described Sijuwade as "a humble monarch, who has the fear of God at heart".
Oba Sijuade received so many honorary awards in his life time:
  • Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR)
  • Keeper of the Seal of Yorubaland
  • Hon. Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
  • Hon. Chancellor, Osun state University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria
  • Former Hon. Chancellor, University of Technology, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
  • Doctor of Civil Laws (Honoris Causa), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
  • Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa), University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
  • Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
  • Member of the British Institute of Management
  • Highest National Honour, Republic of Poland
  • Royal Belgian Distinction of Commander in the Order of the Crown
  • Grand Commodore, Ohio State, USA
  • Carrier of the Key to the City of Philadelphia, USA
  • Carrier of the Key to the City of Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
  • Carrier of the Key to the City of Havana, Cuba
He was reported dead on July 28, 2015 in a London hospital at the age of 85 but the news was refuted by the Royal traditional council of Ile Ife who claimed that he is alive and in good health His death away was officially announced by the Ife High Chiefs when they visited the governor of Osun State in Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola, on 12 August 2015 at the governor's office in the state capital, Osogbo. The Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolences to his family on his death.

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