HRM. Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi: The Olofa of Offa
By BABA YUSUF
The referred king of Offa monarchy and distinguished Abusite, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, the Esuwoye I, has attained 10 years on the throne. We x-ray the life and achievements of the man known as Olofa of Offa.
The traditional institution prior to Nigeria’s independence played important roles in administering the country especially in the northern part where traditional chiefs, Emirs and Obas were used for the Indirect Rule System of government to reach out to the people.
The Ibrahim Dasuki Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Reform document of 1977, however, changed the situation which made a lot of them to be placed under local governments and state governors, respectively.
The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Oloyede Gbadamosi, Okikiola Ajagungbade I, Esuwoye II according to a prominent Offa indigene, Asiwaju Mashood Shittu emphasized that in spite of the limited roles the constitution bestows on them, deemed it necessary and important to use his influence, finance as well as the support of well-wishers to embark on some developmental projects meant for the improvement of the lives of his people of Offa.
Postponed anniversary over Covid-19 pandemic
As he celebrates 10 years of uninterrupted traditional stewardship of the Offa Kingdom, the Olofa as a mark of respect for his people has ordered the postponement of his 10th year coronation anniversary.
The Olofa of Offa in a letter signed by his chief of staff, stated that, “This is to notify the general public that the planned celebration of the 10th year coronation anniversary of His Royal Majesty, Oba
(Alhaji) Mufutau Gbadamosi Oloyede, the Olofa of Offa, has been postponed indefinitely.
“This decision becomes imperative in view of the recent global health pandemic that has engulfed the whole world with attendant loss of lives and severe impact on our economy and our way of life.
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“Consequently, His Royal Majesty has called upon his subjects, friends of Offa and all men of goodwill to join him in prayers and to commiserate with all those who lost their lives in the country as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and pray that may Almighty Allah repose their souls, Ameen.
“His Majesty is thankful to Almighty Allah for his grace and mercy on his immediate family and the loving people of Offa land and therefore using this occasion to appeal to all and sundry to take necessary precautionary measures as advocated and prescribed by the state government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
“We should do everything possible to stay alive and save our people from the scourge of Covid-19.
The man Mufutau Gbadamosi
His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi hails from Anilelerin Ruling House Offa, in Offa local government area of Kwara state. He was born into the family of Alhaji Muhammed Gbadamosi Esuwoye and Alhaja Awawu Gbadamosi Esuwoye on the 10th of August, 1963 in both Obatiwajoye and Asalofa compounds, respectively.
He started his education in the public owned Mohammed Bankanu Primary School in Sokoto between 1969 and 1976 then proceeded to the renowned Maru Teachers College, Gusau between 1976 and 1981 where he bagged Grade II Teachers Certificate.
Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi then attended Birni-Kebbi Polytechnic between 1982 and 1985 from where he got his National Diploma in Building Technology. His sheer passion to be educated at the higher level, again took him to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he graduated with a Bachelor of Building Technology in 1989.
Between 1989 and 1990, he was a youth corps member rendering selfless service to his nation in the Katsina State Housing Authority. His industrious nature, commitment to duty, and amiable personality endeared him to the hierarchy of the Federal Housing Authority which rewarded him with an employment in 1991 and was posted to Lagos.
The vicissitudes of Lagos life coupled with he desire to make ends meet of which his salary could not provide led him to willingly tender his resignation letter in 1997 in order to seek a better and more rewarding greener pasture in the area of buying and selling of rice, sugar, salt and cement.
He has been successful in business and rose to be the chairman of MB Integrated Electrical and Data Services Limited; Zarm Poultry and Feed Mill Industry in Lagos, a Poultry business that prides itself as the biggest in the state and Yammfy Nigeria Limited, sister poultry farm located at Ilemona, Kwara state. Yammfy Nigeria Limited is today adjudged to be one of the biggest poultry businesses in Nigeria.
Achievement on the throne
Some achievements of this royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi since he ascended the throne on may 9th 2010 include the complete reconstruction of the old palace into a state of the art magnificent complex, completion of the hitherto abandoned ODU Hall, completion of the third phase of the Offa Central Mosque, introduction of the annual Ijakadi Festival with the aim of placing emphasis on cultural heritage.
Others include the rebuilding of Owode burnt market within two months of the incident in order to put smiles on the faces of the market women, approval and take off of Summit University in Offa, approval of Graceland Polytechnic, Offa, Federal Polytechnic Offa to offer Degree programmes in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, upgrading of Kwara State College of Health Technology to Offer HND programmes.
The takeoff of PAN African College of Education, Offa, Lens Polytechnic, Offa, approval, reconstruction, and takeoff of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Offa study centre, construction of doctors quarters to enhance the existing one, rebuilding of Oja Ale (Night Market) by replacing tables with slabs, construction of the Moremi Hall of Fame, among others.
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