The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has named lawyer Bilaal Akinola as the new Chief Imam of Oyo land, following the passing of the late Chief Imam, Mashood Ajokidero III, in early 2023. According to his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaye, Akinola was selected after successfully passing the required screening process. Addressing the new Chief Imam, Oba Owoade said, “This appointment is significant not only for our people but also sacred in the eyes of Allah. Leadership in Islam demands humility, sincerity, and justice.” Born on April 15, 1965, to Shaykh Bilaal Ogunbado of Imam Ogunbado compound in Akeugberu Oyo, Oyo West Local Government Area, Akinola studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. During the ceremony, the Alaafin also highlighted the importance of child protection for national development. Speaking to pupils of the Federal College of Education (Special) Basic School in Durbar, Oyo, he said, “Children are the future. Their healthy growth and development should be a top priority. Prosperous nations are those where family stability is maintained.” Oba Owoade stressed that national development requires enforceable laws, policies, and social services. He cited Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act 2003, noting that abuses persist due to insufficient social consensus and political will. He drew attention to corporal punishment in schools, neglect, deprivation of basic needs, sexual abuse, and child marriage, often perpetrated by parents, guardians, teachers, or clerics, warning that such abuses leave lasting psychological scars. On broader societal growth, the Alaafin stated, “Citizens can only overcome the constraints of their historical and cultural environments by transforming their understanding of history.” He urged Nigerians to support government initiatives aimed at national transformation, emphasizing that strong families are the foundation of a stable society. “The increasing rate of family breakdowns has become a ticking time bomb, contributing to criminal behaviour among children from broken homes. Marriage plays a crucial role in shaping a strong society, and early childhood experiences profoundly influence the life a person will lead,” he concluded.
