Oba (Senator) Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa I), the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, has been conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree (D.Sc.) in Public Administration Honoris Causa by Lead City University, Ibadan, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to Yoruba tradition, community development, and public service.
The honour was announced in a statement issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Ayoade Solomon Olugbemiga.
The conferment took place during the university’s 18th Convocation Ceremony held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. According to the institution, the prestigious award reflects the monarch’s outstanding achievements as a successful entrepreneur, business tycoon, investor, respected politician, and custodian of Yoruba cultural heritage.
Receiving the award, Oba Ladoja expressed profound gratitude to God for the privilege of ascending the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland and for the honour bestowed on him by the university. He described the recognition as a humbling affirmation of his lifelong dedication to service.
Lead City University highlighted the monarch’s role in promoting and preserving Yoruba cultural values, noting that his leadership continues to strengthen cultural identity and foster unity across Ibadanland and the larger Yoruba nation.
The statement recalled that Oba Ladoja’s brilliance was evident early in life. Following his secondary education, his exceptional performance earned him a scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Liège, Belgium, in 1966, a foundation that shaped his future success in both the private and public spheres.
His journey from scholar to statesman, and now to revered monarch, the release noted, stands as a testament to his perseverance, commitment to duty, and unwavering dedication to the progress of Ibadanland.
