Ondo Kingdom Marks Oba Kiladejo’s 20th Coronation Anniversary, to Honour US Media and Music Figures

Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State is set to mark 20 years of the reign of its paramount ruler, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, with a series of medical, cultural, educational and community development activities, including the conferment of traditional titles on two prominent Americans.

The anniversary celebrations, organised by the Ondo Development Committee (ODC), will feature media personality Sway Calloway and American music industry executive and cultural advocate Leila Steinberg among those expected to receive traditional chieftaincy honours. The recognition will celebrate their accomplishments and contributions, alongside other distinguished personalities and deserving indigenes of the kingdom.

The activities are expected to run until December 24, 2026, ahead of the annual Ekimogun Day Festival on December 26. The anniversary is themed “20 Years of Unprecedented Peace and Development in Ondo Kingdom”, reflecting the organisers’ focus on the monarch’s reign and the community’s development over the past two decades.

A major highlight will be the ‘Festival of Surgeries’, a medical outreach programme inspired by Oba Kiladejo’s professional background as a medical doctor and his interest in the health and welfare of his people. The initiative is expected to provide medical interventions for beneficiaries and promote access to healthcare in the community.

The programme will also include an inter-school debate competition, a public lecture, cultural performances, an art exhibition and a golf tournament at the Nibanola Motherland Resort and Golf Course in Ondo City. Organisers said the activities would provide opportunities for students, academics, professionals and cultural practitioners to showcase their talents and discuss the kingdom’s history and future.

The planning committee also intends to document the monarch’s 20-year reign through a documentary on Ondo’s social evolution and traditional institutions. A collection of Oba Kiladejo’s speeches and a commemorative brochure will also be unveiled, while an art exhibition featuring works by prominent Nigerian artists will celebrate the kingdom’s cultural identity.

Beyond the ceremonial events, the anniversary will feature the unveiling and commencement of legacy development projects. The organisers said at least one project was expected to be completed and commissioned before the end of 2026, while groundbreaking ceremonies would be held for other initiatives. A town hall meeting tagged ‘A Day with Osemawe’ will also allow residents to interact directly with the monarch on issues affecting the kingdom.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Professor Femi Mimiko, who is the High Chief Lisa-elect of Ondo Kingdom, is chairman of the anniversary planning committee. Mimiko said the celebration was designed not only to honour the monarch’s two decades on the throne but also to bring indigenes at home and abroad together to reflect on their shared history, achievements and aspirations.

The Ondo Development Committee, chaired by Chief Oye Akinsulire, said the anniversary would also include thanksgiving services at selected places of worship representing different religious groups. The organisers have called on indigenes, community associations, professional organisations, alumni groups, market groups, educational institutions and youths to participate. They noted that Ondo Kingdom has a recorded monarchical history spanning 516 years, describing its traditional institution as an enduring symbol of the people’s heritage and cultural identity.