02/07/2026
Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Olaniyan, Passes Away at 55 in the US
His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Yisa Sola Adeniyi Olaniyan (Orijajoogun I), the 46th Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom in Ogun State, has died in the United States at age 55.
The monarch, who was also President of the Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards and CEO of Afro Heritage Entertainment Company in the USA, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Sources close to the palace said the Onipokia of Ipokia died after complications from a surgical procedure related to difficulty swallowing. The exact cause of the illness has not yet been officially confirmed, though associates described the death as sudden.
News of his passing has plunged Ipokia and the broader Yewa community in Ogun State into deep mourning. Tributes have poured in from traditional rulers, politicians, community groups, and entertainment figures across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards organization announced the loss, describing their founder as a leader whose reign was closely linked to cultural revival, community development, and active engagement with Nigerians abroad.
In an official statement, the organization said it found comfort in a legacy marked by excellence, compassion, and dedicated service.
Oba Olaniyan ascended the throne of Ipokia on August 12, 2020, becoming the 46th Onipokia after a career of over twenty years abroad.
Before returning home to assume the throne, he spent 23 years in the United States, where he studied Criminal Justice at the University of Houston-Downtown and built a career in aviation, oil and gas, and later renewable energy.
He co-founded NSB Worldwide Incorporated, a renewable energy company. He also served as the National Public Relations Officer of the Yewa Descendants Union in North America, a role that strengthened ties between Yewa natives overseas and their homeland.
As a traditional ruler, he promoted several development initiatives, including advocating the relocation of Ogun State Polytechnic to Ipokia and pushing for the Ipokia University of Science and Technology Bill before the National Assembly.
He also led a fundraising campaign aiming to raise five billion naira for community projects across the kingdom.
His cultural contributions earned wider recognition less than a year before his death. On August 31, 2025, at a ceremony in Ikeja, Lagos, he was inducted into the Nigerian Books of Record Hall of Fame and awarded its Fellowship for his contributions to leadership and cultural preservation.
He dedicated the honor to his people and the African diaspora, stating that Ipokia was on a path of transformation that future generations would inherit with pride.
His reign was not without challenges. In 2022, a rival ruling house petitioned the Ogun State Government, contesting his ascension and seeking suspension pending a legal dispute over the stool.
The issue did not hinder his leadership, and he continued to serve as the king until his death.
The Onipokia of Ipokia died just weeks before what would have been his sixth coronation anniversary in August.
He celebrated his fifth anniversary along with his 55th birthday in September 2025, an occasion organizers described as a double celebration of his charismatic leadership.
The palace and the Ipokia Traditional Council have not officially announced funeral arrangements or traditional rites.
The Ogun State Government has yet to release a formal statement, but condolence messages from political and traditional leaders continue to arrive from across the state and beyond.
