Ooni of Ife’s Growing Business Empire

The desire and determination of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to do things differently and remain distinct in his ways has largely contributed to his success since he ascended the throne nine years ago.

The Arole Oduduwa, as he is fondly called, remains steadfast in his ways and has always been driven by the interest of his people. He is blessed with a repertoire of knowledge in his culture and tradition. Little wonder he has remained one of the most influential monarchs in Nigeria.

Before he ascended the throne, he was a top shot in property and real estate, with a lofty vision to become the best real estate company in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. He was among those who revolutionised the industry in no time with huge success.

Although his position as a king, to some extent, has slowed him down from operating his business, the man who was born with a high sense of business orientation has not jettisoned his youthful dream of becoming one of the best businessmen in the country and beyond. It can be said that his royal position does not stop his aspiration.

Little by little, the monarch has been actualising his lofty ideas. He has invested billions of naira in retail shopping outlets with his trademark Ojaja Mall across the South-western states, such as Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun and Lagos.

A source hinted that the highly revered king has also invested in education, with the Ojaja University, located in Ilorin, Kwara State. The school, as gathered, is poised to be the most preferred choice in the country and aims to produce globally competitive and entrepreneurially savvy solutions providers who would be leaders and future employers of labour as well as a global centre of excellence in cultural studies and renaissance.

A few weeks ago, Oba Adeyeye expanded his business empire with the launch of Tingo Cola. The set of drinks was launched in Lagos to the admiration of all and loads of unprecedented razzmatazz/fanfare with consumers giving kudos for a job well done.

Although only two out of nine variants were launched, a source revealed that it has a propensity to give others in the market a run for their money.

The Ooni also has his hands in other businesses, such as agriculture, tech, banking and tourism.