Behold! The new Olota of Ota, Obalanlege

*As Crescent University’s lecturer, journalist turns monarch in Ogun

On the 28th November, 2017 a veteran journalist and lecturer, Prince Abdul-Kabir Adeyemi Obalanlege emerged the Olota-elect.

Obalanlege, who is from Ijemo-Isolosi Ruling House, emerged as the 14th Olota of Ota after the five surviving kingmakers voted unanimously for him beating other 22 contestants to the stool. Among the contestants are Prince Gbolagade Akinboyede of Isoloshi ruling house, his brother, Barrister Abiodun Akinboyede and Barrister Oluwatoyin Adeyanju. Out of the 22 names shortlisted by the Ijemo-Isoloshi ruling house, four were selected by the kingmakers led by the Ekerin of Ota, Chief Bamgboye Osunlabu.

According to a media report, his emergence was announced by the kingmakers at the headquarters of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.  The election was supervised by the Secretary to the Local Government, Honourable Adewale Dada.

Obalanlege was announced as the new king after the passing away of his predecessor Oba Moshood Adetoro Alani Oyede, who ruled from 1997 to 2016. The 72-year-old monarch who had been on the throne for 19 years was 13th Oba in recorded history.

Jamiu Folarin, his colleague at the Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University Abeokuta provides background to the personality of the Olota-elect:

The New Olota of Ota, Dr Oba Abdul-Kabir Adeyemi Obalanlege was born in Mushin, Lagos State on the 28th of August, 1966, six years after Nigeria’s Independence. His parents were Prince Hassan Taiwo Obalanlege of Ijemo Compound and Mrs Mutiat Afolake Obalanlege (Nee Anjorin) of Isoloshi Compound, Ota.

Obalanlege (Ph.D, MCIPR, FHEA), who until his election as the new Oba is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Sub-Dean, College of Arts, Social, Management Sciences (CASMAS), Crescent University, Abeokuta (CUAB), as well as Visiting Senior lecturer at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

He has a PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Leicester, England; Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Journalism from Independent Colleges; and Higher National Diploma from Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. He also attended Ansar-ud-Deen College, Isolo, Lagos State and Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State.

His journalism
The New Olota of Ota started his professional career as a journalist with The Republic newspapers, Lagos between 1989 and1990; Ogun State Correspondent of The Mail newspapers, Lagos, from 1990 to 1993. He was appointed as the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos in 1993 – 1995 and took the appointment as Senior Correspondent of ThisDay newspapers, Lagos in 1995. He became the Editor of City Vanguard newspaper, Ireland,1996 where he served for 12 years.

Obalanlege joined the academics as a lecturer on October 1st, 2008 and rose to the position of Senior Lecturer on September 1st, 2014.
He is a Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA). United Kingdom; Member Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). London; Member, Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII). Dublin; Member, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). Ogun State, Nigeria; Member, International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).

Dr Obalanlege had teaching experience as lecturer at the School of Arts and Digital Industries, University of East London, England (2008 – 2009), Lincoln School of Journalism, Lincoln, University of Lincoln, England (2009 – 2012), Department of Mass Communication, Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos (2012 – 2013), Department of Mass Communication, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. (2012 – 2013), Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta (2014 – till date). He is also the External Examiner for the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa.

He has supervised over 40 Research Projects both at the undergraduate and postgraduates levels.

To his credit are many researches and also contributed to knowledge by presenting papers at local and international conferences.

He also has publications in many book of readings, journals and books as part of his contributions to scholarship.
The new Olota of Ota is a member of Rotary Club

He is married with Children. His eldest son, Mustapha Obalanlege recently commenced his PhD after completing Masters of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) at Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom.

The Head of Department, Mass Communication, Dr Kola Adesina on behalf of the proprietor, Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bola Ajibola and the entire Crescent University community congratulates Dr Oba Yemi Obalanlege on his election as the new Olota of Ota.