- Otun Balogun ALADE SHOTE Reveals
Otun Balogun Alade Shote is a big Chief in Ijebu. He is one of Awujale of Ijebus Chiefs. He is also a member of the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee. Last week, the handsome titled Chief spoke about what to expect at this years Ojude-Oba and why he is deeply rooted in Ijebu culture and tradition.
According to him, this years Ojude Oba Festival will be better than what we have been having before. We are planning seriously towards it. The Balogun Alhaji Agboola Alausa and myself are members of the Planning Committee of Ojude-Oba. Insha Allah! Its going to be better. My prayer goes to our Baba, the Awujale. He is the custodian of all Ijebu culture. We pray for him, for God to give him long life and prosperity”.
“So, also our Baba, the Balogun of Ijebu, Alhaji Agboola Alausa. We pray to God to give him long life and prosperity. We pray for all the Oloye of Ijebu. We pray for all the members of the planning committee of 2018 Ojude Oba, year we strive to improve and build on what we do the precious year”.
“I was born some 66 years ago on September 20, 1952 to the family of Sote Tewogbola of Ijebu-Ode. My mother is from Lagos (both sides of my mother are from Lagos) and both sides of my father are from Ijebu-Ode.
How about his growing up?” I grew up a little bit in Lagos and the rest at Ijebu-Ode. Primary school was in Lagos. Holy Trinity Primary School. And secondary school was Adeola Odutola College. From there to Federal School of Science and later to College of Tech, Yaba from there overseas.”
What did he study? “I did Press communications. Later, I did Journalism.
How come he has remained glued to Ijebu-Ode, despite the fact that he lived abroad and in Lagos? “Its because I believe you belong to somewhere and you have to know the nooks and corners of the place. I like Tradition. It has helped me a lot. My loving tradition is one of the things that has made me one of the Chiefs in Ijebuland.”
How has life been as an Ijebu Chief? “Its been very nice. I thank God, I have learnt a lot from my Baba here, the Balogun.
He has helped a lot. He is the one doing the job, I am only assisting him. (Smiles).
Otun Balogun Alade Shote was born into the notable Shote Towobola family of Agunshebi Quarters of Ijebu-Ode by Alhaji Chief Abass Olanrewaju Odusami Shote. His mother, Alhaja Chief (Mrs) Nurat Ashake Shote, a proper Lagosian of Sasi and Suenu chieftaincy families of Lagos.
He attended Holy Trinity Primary School Lagos, Adeola Odutola College Ijebu-Ode, Federal School of Science Onikan Lagos and later Yaba College of Technology where he studied Telecommunications. He worked briefly with I.T.T (Nig) Ltd. International Telegraph and Telecommunications company before proceeding to England.
While in England, he worked with British Telecoms (BT) and Lanbeth Council Probation Dept. both in London.
He holds many chieftaincy titles. He was installed Otunba Fadegbuyi of Ilaporu on 31st March 2002, then Otunba Gbobaniyi of Molipa, Ijebu-Ode on 26 December, 2006. He was turbaned as “Bashorun Adinni” Qudriyah International in London November 6, 2010 and installed as Osi-Balogun of Ijebuland in October 2011 by Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. He was made Akeweje-Egbe Bobagunte Okunrin Asiwaju-Akile Ijebu.
He is the 1st Executive President, Ijebu-Ode Descendants Association UK & Ireland. He was Special Adviser, Omo Obanta UK & Ireland, then Circle of Comrades (COC), Lagos. He is a member of Obanta Club, Ijebu-Ode, Otun Balogun Alade Shote belongs to Egbe Obafuwaji Age-Grade and he’s married with lovely children.
