VENO NEWS:HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY SEN. ADEWOLU LADOJA AKANMU BECOMES THE 44TH OLUBADAN By ComradeOla Date: 26-09-25
Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja was born on 25 September 1944 in Gambari, a village near Ibadan. He attended Ibadan Boys’ High School from 1958 to 1963, then Olivet Baptist High School, for his senior secondary years from 1964 to 1965. He proceeded to Europe to further his studies, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Liège, Belgium, in 1972.
After university, Ladoja returned to Nigeria and joined Total Nigeria in 1972, where he worked for about thirteen years in various technical and managerial roles. In 1985, he left to pursue private business ventures. Over time, he built a diversified business portfolio spanning sectors such as banking, agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, shipping, and more. By the year 2000, he had become a director of Standard Trust Bank.
His political journey was also long and eventful. He entered the Senate in 1993 under the Third Republic, representing Oyo South. In 2003, he was elected Governor of Oyo State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). His governorship was marked by clashes with powerful political figures in the state, especially with Lamidi Adedibu. In January 2006, he was impeached by the state legislature but was reinstated in December 2006 after court rulings. He completed his term in 2007. In subsequent elections (2011, 2015), he ran under different party banners such as the Accord Party, though he did not regain the governorship.
Ladoja’s reputation goes beyond business and politics; he has a well-known track record of philanthropy and community engagement. Despite his wealth and status, reports note that he has maintained a relatively simple lifestyle. He has invested in agriculture (not just for profit but to support local farmers and food production), supported the development of educational and community infrastructure, and engaged in social welfare initiatives. People from Ibadan and beyond often speak of his humility, his interest in improving the lives of ordinary citizens, and his willingness to use his influence to mediate disputes and encourage progress.
In July 2025, following the passing of the 43rd Olubadan, Ladoja was selected according to Ibadan’s traditional rotational chieftaincy system as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland His coronation took place today, 26 September 2025. As Olubadan, he is expected to combine his decades of public service, business experience, and traditional authority to guide Ibadanland in cultural, social, and civic affairs.