Monarch says King Sunny Ade is worth celebrating

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi said this at a public lecture held in honour of the veteran musicians 70th birthday.

The lecture held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife with the theme 'Nigeria music industry; the falling standards'.

The paramount ruler remarked that King Sunny Ade's experience in the Nigerian music scene should be emulated by the next generation of artists.

The Ooni said, "We are all here today to celebrate another leader in the music industry; I personally took it upon myself to be part of this event when the organiser came to me.''

Oba Ogunwusi also bemoaned the lack of experienced professionals to mentor and teach the younger generation.

"It is sad that mentoring school is no longer in this country. There is a sharp disconnect between the older ones and the youth, and this is getting wider by the day; when last did the youth get in contact with their legend."

The Ooni also asked that King Sunny Ade as well as other stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry mentor the new crop of musicians.

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King Sunny Ade on the other hand, said he was happy to be alive to celebrate his 70th birthday. He also said that he was glad to be accorded such honour by the Ooni of Ife.

"The late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade made me to be closer to him while alive, and now the new Ooni Adeyeye Ogunisi is moving closer to me, I think I am one of the luckiest to be close to the royalty," he said.