H.R.M Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III)
B.B.A., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Hons.), M.A.S.I.S., M.N.I.M., M.B.I.M., F.C.I.M,
(Paramount Ruler and Prescribed Authority, Olowa of Igbara-Oke kingdom)
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III), is the 13th Olowa of Igbara-Oke kingdom. A prominent Oba in Ondo State, Nigeria. He was born over sixty (60) years ago at Igbara-Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State into a royal dynasty of Ogidi by Chief Ezekiel Abiodun Agbede, a retired Police Officer of an outstanding achievements and enviable records of service, and his mother, Mrs. Florence, a successful and prominent trader. Being a son of a disciplinarian, he grew up as a well-trained child.
He attended the Baptist Primary School, Kaduna and later proceeded to the popular Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke, where he performed creditably in his academic and was loved by all for his brilliance and high sense of responsibility. His burning passion for education gained him admission into the Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, for his first degree in Business Administration, and he later went to overseas for his Post Graduate education.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III), as a young Prince is in his youth days was a man of diverse personality traits who at one time worked as a teacher, administrator, accountant and now a security and intelligence consultant. He has worked in nearly every part of the country and he is a multi-lingual king.
In 1980s, his concern about the security network of the country informed his ventured into a private registered security, Crown Continental Limited, (Category A), which is now a household world and a pacesetter in the security outfits in Nigeria till today. As a hardworking, enterprising, industrious and visionary security chieftain, his company has branches in all the states in Nigeria.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III), is indeed a very honourable man, and many who are privilege to relate with him would attest to this. A man with a large heart, a philanthropist and a man imbued with good sense of humour, one of the custodians of the rich Yoruba attributes, a positivist at all times.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III), can be compared to a Greek mythological repertoire, who used all his resources to champion the course of human capacity development irrespective of tribe, language, state or creed. He stands tall anywhere he finds himself, suffice that he is a living but a legendary Good Samaritan.
This great African has touched the lives of so many people, morally and financially, because he has humanity as his focus. His entrepreneur dynamism has made him president of different business and social organisations, which includes, Northern Zones of the Private Security Companies, his Alma matter, Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke. He was the Chairman, Screening Committee of Bradley University Council for the whole of black Africa.
His social avatar is evident in chain of chieftaincy titles conferred on him before he ascended the throne of his fore fathers. He was made the Asiwaju of Igbara-Oke kingdom, Otunba of Igbara-Odo, to mention few. There is this popular saying that, there are Leaders and there are leaders, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III) demonstrated clearly in deeds and in actions that he is truly a Leader of men when he was made the Asiwaju of Igbara-Oke kingdom.
In his book, Late Oba John Adepoju JP, the past Olowa of Igbara-Oke kingdom, he said, and I quote “Adefarakanmi is an exponent of development, one thing we cannot take away from him is the fact that his place in the history of Igbara-Oke is assured.”
Based on his outstanding contributions to human and community developments, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III) has bagged so many awards and honours both within and outside the country. Awards which includes,
• Award of Excellence by the Igbara-Oke Citizens in the Americas Inc.;
• Excellent Leadership Award by Trust Foundation, All Saints University of America;
• Award of Excellence by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, both Ondo and Oyo State Chapters;
• Pillar of Sports Award in Ondo State;
• Pillar of Security in Nigeria by Education Research Publishers;
• Award of Integrity by Anti-Corruption Awareness Organisation, Nigeria;
• Eminent Nigerian Leadership Award by Toplead Communications;
• African Leader of Integrity by Africa International Magazine;
• Distinguished Industrial and Human Development Monarch Par Excellence by School of Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure among others.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III) is also a Member of the following professional bodies
• Member of American Society of Industrial Security, MASIS;
• Member, Nigerian Institute of Management, MNIM;
• Member, British Chartered Institute of Management, MBCIM;
• Member of World Association of Detectives, MWAD;
• Fellow of the Institute of Fraud Examiner of Nigeria, African Awareness School, an Affiliate of Babcock University;
• Fellow, Certified Institute of Management, FCIM.
• Honourary Doctorate Degree of the Bradley University, United States of America.
As a pious Christian, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III) is a recipient of the Award of Anglican Communion of Nigeria, Igbara-Oke. He is a Patron of different Organisations both within and outside the country. National Patron and member of the Board of trustees of the Yoruba Council of Youths; Royal Patron and Member Board of Trustees, Centre For Anti-Corruption Research and Studies, Nigeria.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III), is an exemplary Nigerian, an embodiment of pure intellect, discipline, a man of very easy camaraderie, a hero who is bent on carving a niche for the black man on the same pedestal as other races. He has never failed in his promise to be faithful in his duty of moving humanity forward and making people happy. No wonder, this colossus is never tired of leaving a name brighter than gold and more enduring than silver or diamond. He is an enviable citizen that every human and humane Nigerian should be proud of.
His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede Ilufemiloye (Ogidi III) has traveled very extensively, and has covered over forty (40) countries. He is happily married with enviable children. He enjoys listening to music.
