By Dupson Collins, 3rd June, 2024
It was a moment charged with pride, culture, and conviction inside the ancient palace of the Ooni of Ife in Ile-Ife, on Wednesday 3rd of June, 2026 where Hon Olumide Aliu was conferred with Akoni Oodua Bibire Leadership Award.
The AKONI Oodua Award meaning “Brave Warrior of Oodua” is a highly prestigious traditional and leadership accolade in Yorubaland, Southwest Nigeria put together by Akoni Oodua Global Services Ltd In conjunction with Oodua Heritage Leadership International Platform.
It honors individuals who display exceptional bravery, outstanding leadership, and steadfast dedication to promoting Yoruba cultural heritage, good governance, and community development.
The 2026 Akoni Oodua Bibire Leadership Public lecture theme was “Blessing Nigeria with the wealth in Yoruba Leadership” delivered by an erudite Professsor from Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko.
The Converner of the Award, Asiwaju Temidayo Ayodele stated that, Akoni Oodua Bibiire Leadership Award 2026 was organized to celebrate and encourage sons and daughters of Yoruba extraction for their unwavering contributions to society and exemplary leadership in their different fields of human endeavors.
He added that, “Bibiire” is a deep Yoruba concept meaning one of noble birth, raised in culture, respectful to elders and constituted authority, protective of family name, and exemplary in conduct, saying the lucky recipients were carefully selected based on popular demand by the members of the public.
“This award is our own way of rewarding selflessness and paying glowing tribute to individuals who have dedicated their lives to rendering service to humanity, advancing the Yoruba race, and contributions to community development”.
Speaking with the PATH, the APC Chieftain thanked the converner of the award for counting him worthy for the Prestigious Award from the cradle of Yoruba race, Ile-Ife saying it means a lot to be recognized by Ooni of Ife Palace.
He stressed the need for every son and daughter of Yoruba extraction to imbibe Omoluwa ethos in all their dealings, saying nobody can buy noble birth (Bibire), describing it as in-born.
Hon Aliu commended Ooni of Ife for promoting Yoruba cultural heritage, while calling on Yoruba Leaders to continue to support the reverred monarch in advancing the cause of the race among comity of nations.
