Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi's one year on the throne

Exactly a year ago today, December 7, 2016,

Oba Ogunwusi succeeded Oba Okunade Sijuwadewho died on July 28, 2015.

Since he became the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi has brought a modern and electric touch to the ancient throne, charming the public and kick starting populist projects.

The 43-year-old supreme monarch of the Yoruba race announced that he would be hosting a musical competition Ojaja II Musical Talent Hunt & Concert. The competition is expected to kick off in August 2016, but the auditioning of the contestants will begin in July.

In a bid to boost tourism in Osun state Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi announced in January his plans to build a N7.6 billion Grand Resort. The resort was part of the Ooni's plan to declare Ife a tourism zone on the 27th of February, 2016. The tourism zone project would empower over 40, 000 widows in the state.

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Clearly, the new Ooni of Ife has shown that he is a progressive monarch ready to embrace the modern world. Besides announcing initiatives to move the spiritual home of Yoruba people, Ile-Ife forward, the Ooni of Ife has familiarized himself with popular culture.

The Ooni of Ife has hosted pop culture stalwarts like Fuji legend King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal 1, actresses Moji Olaiya, Bukky Wright and Lola Alao. In February 2016 the rapper Olamide was spotted with the Ile-Ife monarch.

Within 365 days of his reign, the Ooni has already left a huge legacy surpassing those before him. On Tuesday, November 22, 2016, he unveiled the statue of Moremi in Ile-Ife.

Officially known as the Moremi Statue of Liberty, the statue is the tallest in Nigeria and third tallest in Africa, coming on the heels of The African Renaissance Monument, Dakar, Senegal which is the tallest at 161 feet, followed the Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt which is 66 feet tall.

The statue immortalises Moremi, one of the most popular heroines in Yoruba culture and history.

With one year on the throne, the Ooni of Ife has asserted himself as a custodian of Yoruba culture and someone passionate about the growth and development of the youth.