Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade: Everything to know about the Soun of Ogbomosho

Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade, the late Soun of Ogbomosho, has been trending on and off social media following the news of his death at the age of 95.

The records revealed that Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade, who is the king of Ogbomosho, the second largest town in Oyo state after Ibadan reigned for 48 years as he ascended the throne of his forefathers on October 24, 1973.

Since the announcement of his death, elites in the country, which include President Muhammadu Buhari, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, Alao Akala, Rasheed Ladoja, Kayode Fayemi and a host of others, have sent their message of condolence to the people of Ogbomosho.

The late Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi has been described as a loving peace king by his subjects, with the town of Ogbomosho still mourning the death of their king.

According to the reports, the late monarch, who was a Muslim until his death, has been according to Islamic rites on Sunday, November 12.

For those who may not know, Ogbomosho houses the Ladoke Akintola University, also known as LAUTECH, which was previously co-owned by Osun and Oyo state but is now by Oyo state.

To know more about Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, continue reading this article.

Profile Summary

Full name	Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade,
Also known as	The Soun of Ogbomosho
Gender	Male
Date of birth	27 May 1926
Place of birth	Ogbomosho, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
Date of death	November 12 2021
Place of death	Ogbomosho, Oyo state
Nationality	Nigerian
Parents	Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewumi Ajagungbade II and Ayaba Seliat Olatundun Oyewumi
Wife	Ayaba Olaronke Oyewumi and others
Children	24

Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi’s biography

Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagungbade was born on the 27th of May 1926 in Ogbomosho during a period where Nigeria was under the colonial rule of the British Government. His parents are Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewunmi and Ayaba Seliat Oyewunmi.

The records revealed Oba Bello Afolabi Oyewunmi’s father had 63 children, which include 31 daughters and 32 sons. The late Soun was, however, the youngest of his mother’s three sons and was born during the tenth year of his father’s reign as the Soun of Ogbomosho land.

Oba Jimoh was a grandson to Oba Gbagungboye Ajamasa, Ajagungbade I, who was king between 1869 to 1871. His great-grandfather was Oluwusi Aremu, a half brother of Toye Akanni Alebiosu of Ogbomoso, who was the 7th Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Oyo Empire.

Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi was a Nigerian by birth and died at the age of 95 years old.

Education

Following the death of his father when he was 13, Oba Jimoh, who attended St. Patrick Catholic School, Oke-Padre in Ibadan was forced to return to Ogbomoso and stayed with his mother during the royal funeral.

Back in his home own, the late Oba then went to the Ogbomoso People’s Institute in Paku to continue his elementary education, but didn’t complete his education there as he later moved to Ilesa In Osun to join one of his brothers where he learned to weave.

Career

Upon learning to weave, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi relocated to Jos, where he started importing goods and beer from the UK to sell in Nigeria. However, in 1974, he returned to Ogbomosho to submit his name to become the next Soun of Ogbomosho.

After many processes, Oba Oyewumi was picked as the 20th Ṣọún of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ succeeding his third cousin, Oba Salami Ajiboye Itabiyi, on October 24, 1973.

He went on to take the royal name Ajagungbade (Ajágungbádé) III, a name used by both his father and grandfather.

Oba Jimoh was the first Soun of Ogbomosho to put on a beaded crown, and he was also known to have transformed Ogbomosho into a major town by building a modern-day palace.

Personal Life

Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi married his first wife Ayaba Igbayilola Oyewumi, now deceased in 1950, he would go on to marry other wives as he was a polygamist, popular among them is Ayaba Olaronke Oyewumi. The late Soun of Ogbomosho had 24 children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.