- Prof. John Obafunwa, DG of NIMR, installed as Balogun of Ilara Kingdom by Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo.
- Obafunwa pledged to support education, improve health facilities, and drive youth empowerment in Ilara.
- He urged the young people of Ilara to use their time wisely to become useful to the community and Nigeria.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. John Obafunwa, has been installed as the Balogun of Ilara Kingdom by the Alara of Ilara, Oba (Dr.) Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo (Telade IV).
Eko Hot Blog reports that the conferment ceremony, which took place on Saturday at the palace grounds in Eredo-Epe, drew dignitaries from academia, politics, business, and traditional institutions.
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Speaking after his installation, Prof. Obafunwa expressed appreciation to the monarch and the Ilara community for the recognition.
“I am deeply honoured by this title, and I promise to work hand in hand with our revered monarch to bring more development to this kingdom, especially in the areas of education and health facilities,” he said.
The NIMR DG praised Oba Ogunsanwo for prioritizing education and empowering students through scholarships.
“Kabiyesi values education greatly. He has given scholarships to so many students, some of whom have already graduated.
That is the kind of leadership that inspires growth in a community,” he said.
The new Balogun, who has also personally sponsored scholarships for several students in the past, pledged to continue supporting education, expand access to quality healthcare, and use his wealth of experience to uplift Ilara Kingdom.
Obafunwa described the title of Balogun as one that symbolizes courage, leadership, and service.
“I accept this responsibility with humility, and I will use it to foster development and strengthen our community,” he said.
In his remarks, Oba Ogunsanwo said the conferment was part of efforts to strengthen the ties between the throne and reputable personalities across Nigeria.
“This initiative is aimed at bringing respected sons and daughters closer to the palace so they can contribute meaningfully to the development of Ilara Kingdom,” the monarch said.
He congratulated all recipients, urging them to remain committed to the ideals of service, integrity, and unity.
Other distinguished individuals who received chieftaincy titles at the event include Mr. Jelili Olayemi, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, Amb. Oluwatoyin Lawal, Mrs. Abiodun Lawal, and Dr. Olanrewaju Obasa.
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Offering words of encouragement, Obafunwa urged the young people of Ilara to use their time wisely. “No one will recognize me if I am a nuisance in the community, and the same applies to every notable son and daughter of Ilara.
We must all strive to be useful to ourselves, our community, Lagos State, and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
