Rashidat Okunlade Writes
The Elerinmo of Erinmo, Oba (Dr) Michael Odunayo Ajayi JP, Arowotawaya II has been conferred Oba Atunluse Omoluabi Agbaye Award at the Omoluwabi Royal Icon Award 2023.
The award was conferred at the 5th annual World Omoluabi Day that took place on the 1st of May at National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos.
The organisers said “This honour was bestowed on Oba Michael Odunayo Ajayi in recognition of his visions and noble goals that are in line with our Council’s guiding principles of uncommon Omoluabi virtues, simplicity, hard work, and dedication to the noble development and promotion of the Yoruba aesthetic cultural heritage, traditions, and values respectively.

His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr) Michael Odunayo Ajayi JP, Arowotawaya II became King as the Elerinmo of Erinmo Land an ancient historical town in Oriade LGA of Osun state (known for its spiritually potent mountains) in July 2014.
From the cradle of Yorubaland, Oba Arowotawaya II is a direct descendant of the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Ooni of Ife, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin and his son Obalufon Alayemore (who were the first King to wear the revered Ade Aare (Aare Crown now worn by all Oonis) in Ile Ife and the one who introduced beads wearing for royals). Oba Ajayi hails from two royal lineages in Erinmo namely, the Arowotawaya and Oboye Lekan Royal Ruling dynasties.
After a sterling career in the organized private sector which he started as a Management Trainee recruited fresh from the University into the Unilever Group by then Nigeria’s largest multi-national conglomerate, UAC of Nigeria Plc for about a decade and later with German Pharmaceutical giant – Nigeria German Chemicals Plc (formerly Hoescht) as the Head of Consumer Healthcare division where he personally relaunched popular Pharma/household brands like Abidec drops; Benylin Cough Syrup; Novalgin; Parazone bleach and Daga etc.
After a few years, he was seconded to Ghana to head the West African operations as Managing Director of AH Tradelink (a West African Pharmaceuticals Distribution Company), later switching jobs to become the expatriate Executive Vice President of US-owned Pharmaceutical manufacturing giant, Phyto Riker Pharmaceuticals overseeing the export of high-quality generic pharmaceutical products to over 20 African countries.
When he left paid employment he set up a Management Consultancy firm in addition to the importation and distribution all over West Africa high quality, own branded medical devices.
He was appointed the founding Director General of the Ghana – Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was the Founding President of the Forum of Nigerian Professionals and Business Executives in Ghana.
An alumnus of Bishop Smith Memorial Primary School, Ilorin, Government College, Ilorin, and Command Secondary School, Lagos, he has a first degree in Sociology with Accounting & Business Admin as a minor obtained from the University of Ilorin at the age of 20, an MBA in Marketing with first-class distinction from Lagos State University in 1998 and was awarded an Honourary Ph.D. degree in Commerce in 2014.
His Grandfather, the late Omo Oba Pa Job Ajayi was one of the main founders of the Christ Apostolic Church in Erinmo becoming the first Baba Ijo of CAC Headquarters, Oke Isegun in Erinmo for which reason he declined to be enthroned as King of Erinmo preferring to nominate his cousin when he was offered the throne.
Oba Michael Ajayi’s mother, a disciplinarian teacher and Pastor is an indigene of Igbara Oke in Ondo State who had a very strong Anglican background to which she was committed until her death a few years ago.
Incidentally, his forebear Oba Arowotawaya the 1st was the King when the very first church, the Church of England Anglican Communion came to Erinmo around 1908, and it is on record that he gave them the parcel of land on which the first church in Erinmo was built.
His father Prince Dr. Joseph Olubowale Ajayi, was the shining icon of his town, being the first University graduate in Erinmo and its environment. And for his remarkable support for youth development through employment and his several community development initiatives, he was honoured as the first (and to date the only) Asiwaju of Erinmo land.
Oba Arowotawaya II grew up his childhood as a staunch member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Sabo Oko Oba district headquarters in Lagos, and was ordained as a Special Apostle by His Eminence Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye Baba Aladura of CSMC in October 2015 in complete fulfillment of a prophecy dating back to when he was 14years of age which said he will become King and be ordained.
While working and residing as an expatriate in Ghana, he was a founding member of the Redeemed Christain Church of God, Ambassador’s parish where he held a prominent position as President of the men’s fellowship and Chairman of the Sardius family till his enthronement as King in 2014.
A lover of children, Oba Arowotawaya II has introduced and spent every Christmas day (December 25) and children’s day (May 27) in Erinmo hosting thousands of children to the educational funfair, entertainment, and refreshments since he became King some years ago.
He is a member, Board of Trustees of the Yoruba Oodua Union, a Board of Trustees member of Nigeria – US Trade Council, Patron and BoT of the Nigerian Youth Congress, and Patron of several other notable socio-cultural, socio-economic, and youth organisations in different parts of the world.
Oba Odunayo Ajayi is well traveled locally and internationally to several countries/continents of the world and he is a multiple award winner from different sectors with worldwide acclaim, becoming the first and only Nigerian monarch so far to be a guest at the opening bell of the world acclaimed financial headquarters, the New York Stock Exchange in April 2017.
Oba Arowotawaya II has written and published 5 books to date. A few of his acclaimed recognitions are :
• Most Outstanding Philanthropic Monarch of the Year 2019 in the South West
• Award of Excellence for Youth Empowerment and Building of Unity in Yoruba land
• Special Tribute & Proclamation from the Mayor City of Newark New Jersey
• Tribute & Joint Resolution from the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey 2016
• Golden Excellence Leadership Award as the Most Distinguished King in Yoruba Land 2018/2019
• Royal Patron/Ambassador of Stop Rape Campaign in Nigeria
• Award of Excellence by the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Ghana Chapter
• Fellowship of Institute of African Royalty, South Africa January 2020
• National Outstanding Leadership Award as Trail Blazer by the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS)
• Nigerian Outstanding Traditional Ruler of the Year 2021
• Iconic Royal Father of the Year by Africa Youth Leadership Economic Summit
• Appointed Patron of the Oodua Redemption Alliance
• Grand Patron Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter
• Oba Atunluse Omoluabi Oodua Agbaye Award
His Oba Arowotawaya Foundation has offered full scholarships to countless brilliant but indigent students in his domain while the vocational school he introduced gives free training to equip hundreds of youths and women with practical skills and work tools for their empowerment.
These are in addition to several infrastructural development projects like some of those listed below:
• Drilling of several modern boreholes across Erinmo
• Renovating the old palace to an acceptable standard
• Procurement of new electricity transformers
• Building a new ultra-modern market to boost commerce
• Empowerment of farmers with tools and equipment
• Annual foreign medical outreach to support the elderly and the sick
• Building and equipping a cocoa grading store to support the huge numbers of cocoa farmers in Erinmo
• Empowerment of women with trade support and cash for trade
• Establishment of a modern automated Garri processing plant
• Interest-free multi-million trading cash advance for women
• Setting up a thriving Arowotawaya Football Club which operates at various levels like Under 17, Female Squad, and the main Male Squad