Profile of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye

His Royal Majesty, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye was born on 28th October, 1953 into the family of Chief Olarewaju Ibitoye (of blessed memory) and Mrs. Rachael Ayodele Ibitoye of Ikoja Compound, Omu-Aran.

He attended SIM/ECWA Primary School, Omu-Aran from 1960-1967 for the First School Leaving Certificate. Oba Oladele Ibitoye was at Offa Grammar School, Offa from 1968-1972 for his West African  School Certificate and Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara State Polytechnic) Ilorin from 19973-1975 for G.C.E. ‘A’ Level Papers. He proceeded to the University of Lagos in 1975 and was there till 1978 when he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

The Royal Father did his one year National Youth Service at First Bank, Kano from 1978-1979. He joined the Kwara State Civil Service on 19th September, 1979 as an Inspector of Taxes II at the Board of Internal Revenue, Ministry of Finance Ilorin. Oba Ibitoye served the Kwara State Government in various capacities and rose to the rank of Chief Inspector of Taxes, on salary Grade Level 13, before he became the Olomu of Omu-Aran on 1st February, 1993 following a unanimous choice. Among others, he served as the officer in charge of the Area Office of the Board of Internal Revenue at Okene, Kogi State and the First Secretary to the Board at Ilorin from 1984-1986. Oba Oladele Ibitoye attended several workshops and seminars on Management and Taxes, the traditional ruler was concluding arrangement to travel out of the Country for a greener pasture in Switzerland when the good people of Omu-Aran invited him to ascend the throne of his forefathers as the Olomu of Omu-Aran.

Oba C.O. Ibitoye had earlier served his Community in various positions of responsibility. For instance, he served as a member of the Board of Governors of Ogbo Grammar School, Omu-Aran from 1988-1990; member of several committees of Omu-Aran Development Association (O.D.A) and National Secretary of the Association from 1985-1986.

Since the enthronement of Oba Ibitoye as the Olomu of Omu-Aran, he has served as a rallying point for the promotion and advancement of the socio-economic and political development of the town. His reign has witnessed tremendous peace and harmony among the people of Omu-Aran.

A member of the Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Oladele Ibitoye was officially installed and presented with the First Class Staff of Office as the 28th Olomu of Omu-Aran on 8th May, 1993 by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi. He has, since then, been applying his wealth of experience and education in the discharge of his responsibilities to the people of Omu-Aran and the society in general. Oba Ibitoye was one of the four traditional rulers that represented Kwara State at the discussions held at Kaduna in 1995, on the draft constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He also served as a member of Kwara State Consultative Committee on religious understanding and harmony from 1997-1999.

Oba Ibitoye is currently a member of the Vision 2020 Committee of Kwara State. Oba Oladele Ibitoye is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). He is of Anglican denomination and has performed the Holy Pilgrimages to Israel three times in 1994, 1995 and 2000.

The royal father was a member of the Kwara State Government delegation that accompanied the state governor Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to Pretoria, South Africa in November 2005 for the African Governor of the year Award given to Governor Bukola Saraki. It is in recognition of Oba Ibitoye’s contributions to the National development that the Royal father has been conferred with several awards among which are Zulu Karnaini Gambari Memorial Royal Sports Awards and Development in Nigeria Merit Award (DINMA 2006) in the area of Community Leadership. The traditional ruler is married to Olori Omowumi Ibitoye and blessed with children. His hobby includes farming, reading and table tennis.