– Lessons in Compassion, Élan, from Finest, Best Dressed Monarch
– Why Royal Peers Aspire to His Style
– How Ikateland, Lagos, Profit from His Generosity
In the heart of Lagos, nestled upon the shores of Ikate Kingdom, reigns a noble and compassionate monarch whose benevolence knows no bounds. As the sun rises on his 14th year upon the throne, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Saheed Elegushi stands as a shining beacon of generosity to all who dwell within his realm. So doing, he has accomplished great success, donating money to great causes and helping the needy. A visit to his palace manifests like a pilgrimage to an Eden of generosity, panache, and treasure trove of sorts. Oba Elegushi is a prime illustration of visionary power and people-centred monarchy.
Fate’s glory is to crown a rightful king and hasten his ascension to the throne even as familiar challengers and pretenders to power, stir up strife, singing sonorous songs of mischief. Fate chose His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Saheed Elegushi. At his ascension to the throne, the clouds parted above the Ikate Kingdom, letting in candid streams of light. So doing, the world got to see in all its glory, the promise and grandeur of freshly minted royalty.
As he mounted the throne of his forefathers, the entire length and breadth of Ikateland felt the tremor of his ascent as the coastal kingdom acknowledged the sweet, timeless breeze of legitimacy that preceded his reign.
Thus the popular maxim that, a man may build himself a throne of bayonets, but he cannot sit on it. Thank goodness, Oba Saheed Elegushi attempted no such travesty of royalty; Elegushi, unlike the proverbial renegade angling to seize sovereignty, built for himself a throne founded on authenticity and the acceptance of a patronising realm.
Fourteen years after the youthful Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla lll, ascended the throne of his late father, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, who died in 2009; the entire kingdom of Ikate still basks in the euphoria of his fruitful reign.
From the moment he ascended to his rightful place as king, his focus has been unwaveringly fixed upon the betterment of his people. With a heart as vast as the ocean that caresses the shores of his kingdom, he has dedicated himself to the upliftment of his domain, working tirelessly to improve their living standards and provide for their every need.
Every gesture, every act of charity, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his people. From the construction of schools and hospitals, to the provision of clean water and infrastructure, his philanthropic endeavors have touched the lives of all who call Elegushi their home. He is a king who leads not with iron-fisted authority, but with a gentle and caring hand, guiding his people towards a brighter future.
As he celebrates his 14th year on the throne, The Capital examines the exploits of this noble monarch, who is widely acknowledged as paragon of style, compassion and generosity.
Some of the strategic interventions of HRM Oba Elegushi within the 14 years of his rule span various spheres of human affairs.
For instance, the people of Ikate won’t forget in a hurry how Oba Elegushi sought to make the kingdom a haven of knowledge. This he did by instituting an endowment for the establishment of the Centre of Lagos Study at the Lagos State University. The centre will provide a well-equipped institute for scholars and researchers from all over the world who are desirous to study on the history of Lagos and the many kingdoms and towns in the Nigerian mega city.
Oba Elegushi also initiated the monthly distribution of sanitary towels to over 1,000 secondary school girls to promote menstrual hygiene. And to guarantee the health of his subjects, he recently facilitated the construction of a 40-bed space health centre, fitted with dental and eye treatment facility in Ikate Kingdom.
Oba Elegushi has also been known to contribute to sports development in Ikateland and the whole of Lagos State. For instance, he sponsored the complete renovation of the Pavilion at the Lagos Tennis Club and is responsible for the sponsorship of young Nigerians to a football tourney in Morocco.
Oba Elegushi is involved in other socio-philanthropic activities, which haven’t gone unnoticed. He is currently a Patron of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Chairman of the Patrons Forum. He is also the Chairman of the Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria; the Patron of International Women’s Society, the biggest professional association promoting the interest of women; and an Honorary Member of Rotary Club of Ikeja South, District 9110, Rotary International and a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation.
In the field of education, he facilitated grants to indigent students in Eti-Osa and has rendered appreciable financial support to Primary and Secondary schools within and outside Ikate kingdom.
Oba Elegushi equally pays the health bills of indigent residents, sponsors health outreach programmes and screening, and is a lover of arts and culture – Oba Elegushi is a prominent sponsor of various art exhibitions and programmes across the state.
There is indeed a lot to learn from the Ikate monarch. Aside from his matchless generosity, Oba Elegushi is also an avatar of style and panache. The throne is the natural setting of Oba Elegushi and he would appear elegant rather than bedraggled in it.
The ruler of Lagos’ Ikate Kingdom, whether at business or pleasure, validates the notion that your appearance ultimately defines who you are.
Oba Elegushi’s attire evokes the kind of impact that can only be produced by well-tailored clothing. Each garment’s contours appear to hover just over the King’s body, giving his physique a delicate coating like the chocolate caliente on a teaspoon.
Oba Elegushi makes the most of his title’s ability to showcase his personal style preferences. Whether clad in silk, cotton, velvet, damask, or lace, he appears amazing and dapper down to the smallest detail.
In the world of Oba Elegushi, attention to personal appearance and attire was always important. Feel like a lyrical personification of everything that monarchy and a throne imply instead of looking like a grumpy third-rate puppeteer!
His sense of style has to be the most remarkable aspect of his illustrious career. He “refashioned” the monarchy not only in terms of modernity but also in terms of actual fashion, reworking, reimagining, and revitalising the regal style with visual and creative vigour.
Oba Elegushi, who is well-known throughout the world for his inventive, quirky, and occasionally audacious sense of style, is no wimp when it comes to costume design.
A member of the Kusenla Ruling House of Ikateland in Lagos State, Oba Elegushi emerged as the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom and has since been a sort of role model for several other monarchs in the southwest.
His sense of style, refinement, panache, and great taste in the finest luxury purchases make him an inspiration to several other monarchs.
Oba Elegushi was born on April 10, 1976, and he adopted the customs and fashions of the Ikateland supreme king.
The world’s fashion capital was not Ikate when Elegushi took the kingdom in 2010. But power follows taste, and Ikate Kingdom had been living in a Golden Age of elegance and style ever since the ruling monarch roused a burgeoning sartorial extravaganza.
Most of his fellow royals have stiff, and generally boring styles that are both literal and physical. None of them has the cultural influence or charm to set dress trends in their own kingdoms, much less the Nigerian royal circuit.
A visit to his palace is like a pilgrimage, and his taste is established by the furnishings, interior design, attire, and jewellery. Elegushi is known for his iridescent three-piece native agbada outfits, which are his most popular appearances. His style wheelhouse includes everything from opulent damask to silk jackets to sophisticated cord, aso oke, and taffeta lace clothing.
Oba Elegushi demonstrates that clothing need not be boring. He is a prime illustration of the new fashion routes that the younger southwest Yoruba monarchs are forging, from the casual to the cool, eye-popping colours.
Writing his own fashion narrative, Oba Elegushi takes the lead. He is well-known for his daring sense of style and preference for creating comfortable clothing—he often refers to this as “dressing soft.”
It’s interesting to notice that Oba Elegushi doesn’t have any fierce competition from his contemporaries because none of them inspires the same level of reverence and attention. Many of them have been seen to emulate Oba Elegushi’s fashion sense, thus coming across as mere style teetotalers in comparison to the Ikate monarch.
It’s no secret that the regalest kings have utilised fashion as a diplomatic tool to influence decisions and reach out to people worldwide as well as their own subjects over the ages. Oba Saheed Elegushi leads the way in this regard in unmatched spurts.
born on April 10, 1976, the same day as his late father, the first crowned ruler of Ikateland, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi. Between 1981 and 1987, he attended St. Mathias Primary School in Lagos for his elementary education, and from 1988 to 1994, he attended Methodist Boys’ High School in Lagos for his secondary education.
Following that, he enrolled in Lagos State University, where he studied economics from 1995 to 2000, earning a second-class honours bachelor’s degree in science (B.Sc.). Between 2002 and 2003, he completed his master’s degree in economics at the same university. He then went on to the University of Manchester to complete his master’s degree in public administration.
Oba Elegushi is a recipient of many honors; he holds a Honorary Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State; an Excellent Leadership Award in Community Development, Babcock University; Outstanding Leadership Award, Lagosians in Chicago, USA; a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Leadership, Peace and Community Development by the European-American University; a honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration from the Igbinedion University and most recently, a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Policy and Community development, Lagos State University.
Between 2000 and 2002, he was employed by Elegushi Property Investment Company as an administrator for business development and strategy. From 2003 until 2007, he served as the Lagos State governor’s special assistant. Oba Elegushi was once again appointed to the position of Senior Special Assistant (Special Programmes/Duties) to the Governor of Lagos State upon Babatunde Fashola’s appointment as successor to Bola Tinubu as Lagos Governor. Up until 2010, when he was crowned king of Ikateland, he held that role. He was the youngest monarch of Lagos State when he took the throne at 34 years of age.
Olori Sekinat Elegushi and Olori Hadiza Elegushi are married to Oba Elegushi, with children. His garage displays high-end vehicles, including the 1967 Vintage Cadillac De Ville, the Mayback 600, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
