Ekiti monarch graduates from ABUAD amid royal duties

By Damilola Akinwale –

Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II, the Arujale-Ojima of Okeluse Kingdom, Ondo State, has graduated from the Department of Political Science at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), during its 14th convocation ceremony.

Videos from the ceremony, held on Wednesday, showed the young monarch in his royal regalia, taking photographs with fellow traditional rulers and other graduates. The development sparked reactions on social media, with some praising his achievement while others questioned whether he would participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The monarch ascended the throne at the age of 15 in 2019 and marked his seventh coronation anniversary a few months ago, making the graduation another milestone for him this year.

Oba Oloyede is known for his commitment to education and philanthropy. In 2023, he was recognised by Estam University for his contributions to youth empowerment. In 2024, he also visited the Swedish Embassy in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen cultural and diplomatic ties with Sweden.

As an advocate of education and youth development, the monarch established the Obaoloyede Foundation, which has awarded scholarships to more than 200 students, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing the next generation.

In a congratulatory post, ABUAD praised the monarch for his achievement, noting that he had continued to pursue academic excellence despite ascending the throne at a young age.

“As one of Nigeria’s young traditional rulers, his academic success demonstrates that traditional responsibilities and the pursuit of knowledge can go hand in hand,” the university stated.

It added that his graduation would inspire young Nigerians and reaffirm that education was a lifelong journey, regardless of status or position, before congratulating him on the milestone.