The final rites and farewell activities of the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan, Owolabi Olakulehin, have been announced by the late king’s family. In a statement by his first son, Olasumbo Olakulehin, the olubadan will be given a state burial on Friday, August 8, 2025.
In addition, church service and interment would start at 10:00 am and will be held at St Peter’s Cathedral in Ibadan. Olasumbo revealed that activities like events rescheduled for the 21-day mourning of the late king will precede the state burial.
Pre-funeral activities will begin on August 3, 2025, with football matches at Bishop Philip Academy stadium in the state. Also, the family table tennis preliminaries will be held at Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan at 10:00 am.
The royal family revealed that the table tennis tournament final will be played on August 6, 2025. This will round off the sporting activities and also mark the late monarch’s 90th birthday and first coronation anniversary.
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The king’s body will supposedly lie in ceremonial rest during service at the Mapo Hall on Thursday, August 7, 2025. A Christian wake will later follow at the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, in Ibadan by 3:00 pm.
The statement further indicated that the king’s farewell will be concluded with a family Thanksgiving on Sunday, August 10, 2025. It continued by appreciating President Bola Tinubu, the state governor, Seyi Makinde and Nigerians in general for their condolences.
Historical Background
Owolabi Olakulehin, 90 years of age, answered the final call on Monday, July 7, 2025. The late monarch was born on July 5, 1953, to the family of Ishola Okin Owolabi in Ibadan.
He attended St James Primary School, Oke Akaran, an Islamic school, but later finished at St Peter Primary School in Ibadan. Olakulehin taught briefly as a primary school teacher and later gained admission to Yaba Technical Institute for vocational study.
