His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Olalere Owolabi Olakulehin was born on 5th July 1935 in Okugbaja Village within the proximity of Akanran, in the present day Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State to Pa Ishola-Okin Owolabi and Madam Adunola Aweni Opo Ajilaran Omoyoade Owolabi. The family has its ancestral homestead within the ancient city of Ibadan at Ita-Baale Olugbode.
Owolabi Olakulehin’s maternal lineage derives from another ancient and established Ibadan family, the Kusidi family whose ancestral farmlands is in Kusidi village Egbeda local government with ancestral homestead within the ancient metropolis of Ibadan at Ile Kusidi in Elekuro. The maternal lineage of his family is also a recognised Chieftaincy family in Ibadanland.
He started his primary school education in the village at St James Primary School, Oke Akaran and subsequently moved to Ibadan where he attended Islamic School, Odoiye and later St Peter Primary School, Aremo, where he concluded his primary education.
He taught as a primary school teacher at Wakajaiye in Akobo Area of Ibadan before he gained admission to Yaba Technical Institute for his secondary school education with vocational study in printing and artwork.
He worked at the Ministry of Works, Western Region Government in Ibadan from 1959 starting as a third-class clerk. While working he gained admission to the Yaba College of Technology to study and obtained his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Building.
Upon completion he transferred his service to the Nigerian Army Corp of Engineers where he was recruited in 1970 through the Direct Short Service Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant serving in Benin and Sapele under General Olusegun Obasanjo as his commanding officer.
He later served in various positions and locations across the country rising through the ranks to the position of Major. As an officer, he held various positions including Commanding Officer of the Army Maintenance Regiment in Jos, Kaduna and Lagos. He retired voluntarily from the Nigerian Army as a Major on 1st October, 1979 following the completion of a remarkable twenty-year career in military service.
Upon disengagement from military service, his journey into the world of business commenced when he founded and incorporated FAKOL Nigeria Limited, a building contracting company which undertook various contracts for private individuals, corporations and the government including the Nigerian Army.
A successful businessman, he was also engaged in various enterprising endeavours which include the ownership and operation of a successful printing press (Olakulehin Press, later renamed Solid Prints) and the establishment of FAKOL Bakery which was very famous for the production, distribution and supply of Fakol Loaves, Pastries and other pioneering confectionaries within the city of Ibadan.
HIM Oba Owolabi Olakulehin was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party in Oyo State during the third Republic. He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1992 representing Ibadan South East Constituency in the third republic and served as Chairman of the House Committee of the Nigerian Army.
He became Mogaji for the Ige Olakulehin Family of Ita-Baale in Ibadan North East Local Government in 1983 and was installed as the Jaagun Balogun of Ibadan Land by Oba Oloyede Asanke in 1986. Rising through the ladder, he was elevated in 2006 to the Olubadan-In-Council under Oba Yinusa Bankole Ogundipe, the 38th Olubadan of Ibadan and served as the Head of Traditional Council in various Local Governments across Ibadan, representing the Olubadan-In-Council prior to becoming the Balogun of Ibadan in 2016.
Following the directive of the Olubadan-In-Council, he retired from active politics and has devoted his time and resources towards the advancement of the interests of the people of Ibadan, Ibadanland and its metropolitan environs.
He is a deeply devoted family man, a committed Christian and a supporter of the interests of all the various clans, indigenous families, residents, communities, and businesses in Ibadanland.
