Ogunwusi thrill Ottawa community with ‘one-of-a-kind’ visit

By Waubgeshig Rice

Ottawa’s Nigerian community is welcoming six monarchs from the African country to the national capital region this week to promote culture, create partnerships, and celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Dozens of community members showed up to the Ottawa International Airport Wednesday to welcome the first arrival King Babatunde Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, also known as Ojaja II, with a ceremony.

“In unity there’s a lot of strength, and we’re happy for us to all come together and to tell our story as Nigerians in a positive way,” said the king, after meeting community members in the airport.

“The community is so excited. We are longing for our culture. We want to celebrate our culture right here in our adopted homeland of Canada,” said John Adeyefa, president of the Nigerian-Canadian Association.

Six kings representing different regions and peoples of Nigeria will spend the rest of the week in Ottawa-Gatineau and Toronto for meetings and cultural celebrations. Along with Ojaja II, the five others are:

• King Oba Aderemi Adedapo the Alayemore of Ido-Osun.
• King Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo.
• King Ralph Obumnemeh Ekpeh.
• King Gibson Nwosu.
• King Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.

A royal visit of this magnitude between the two countries has never happened before, according to Adeyafa.

“That is why we are so excited. This is the first time in over 50 years of Canada-Nigeria relations,” he said.

“It’s never happened before. This is a one-of-a-kind — to bring the traditional rulers from Nigeria right into Canada. It’s a big feat.”

Moses Abayomi Pratt has lived in Ottawa for 35 years, and he’s thrilled to experience what he calls such a “high-level” visit.

“We are very, very delighted and it means a lot to all the Nigerians in Ottawa,” he said.

The kings will gather with the community for a conference at the Canadian Musuem of History at noon Thursday, before spending Friday and Saturday with the community in Toronto.