The Iraye family of Sagamu, on Saturday, August 11, 2018, installed an illustrious son, Chief (Engr.) Lookman Rotimi Noah Kalejaye, an American trained Engineer as the Olootu Omoba of Iraye Kingdom.
The memorable installation ceremony, which took place at the Noah Hospital premises, Ebute, Ikorodu, was witnessed by members of the family from the four branches of Iraye family (Mawelu, Adekale, Oduye and Kusote), who had all come to drum support for the new family head. The brief installation ceremony took off with a prayer session by the Chief Imam of Iraye community, after which representatives of each of the four branches of Iraye family were invited one after the other to endorse and re-affirm the support of the entire members of their respective branches of the family for the choice of Chief Kalejaiye as the new family head.
The representatives, including Otunba S. O. Akinsanya Mawelu (Mawelu branch); Prince Lateef Ayoola (Kusola branch), Prince Agboworin Adekale (Adekale branch) and Engr. Jamiu Kashimawo (Oduye branch), in their separate brief remarks, affirmed their branches’ endorsement of Chief Kalejaiye as the new family head of the Iraye family, while describing his choice as a round peg in a round hole. They commended Chief Kalejaiye for engendering unprecedented development and peace in Iraye community since assuming the mantle of leadership of the Iraye family five years ago and assured him of their continuous support. They equally appealed to the other members of the family to support the new family head to enable him achieve his laudable plans.
Chief Kalejaiye was later led to the high table in company of his wife amidst songs and dances. There, installation rites were administered to him by Pa Jimoh Ogunlaru (Bena cross), after which he was decorated with beads and cap by Chief Awotola Adebambo Oduye and Chief Jamiu Shittu, Lisa of Odo-Jobore respectively to formally install him as the new and authentic Olootu (family Head) Omoba of Iraye kingdom. After his installation, Chief Kalejaiye gave a short address, where he thanked his entire family members for unanimously entrusting him with the leadership of the family and Iraye community and promised to live up to their expectations. The event was later rounded off with a photograph session and entertainment of guests respectively
In an interview with Oriwu Sun, Chief Kalejaiye said he was very happy to be installed as the Head of the Iraye family and thanked the entire family members for their tremendous support and cooperation. He urged them to sustain such gestures to enable him to continue to succeed as the head of the family. He also admitted that he had made sacrifices for the community to ensure that there was development and peace. He assured that he would continue to work for the progress of the community, stating that a world class hospital built by NNPC for the community would soon be commissioned to be followed by electrification of the community.
Kalejaiye disclosed that Ogun State government, through its Ministry of Education, was planning to rehabilitate schools in Iraye community to make them conducive for learning. He also said that some persons from Abuja were also planning to bring solar energy transformer to the community to enhance power supply. He, however, condemned the activity of land grabbers in the community and promised that such people would soon be flushed out of the kingdom as he would continue to explore the instrumentality of the law to reclaim what is due to them. He was thankful that his emergence as the Head enjoyed the collective support and endorsement of the entire family members. He said those opposed to his new position would be identified and carried along to ensure peace and harmony.
One of the Chiefs, Ayotola Adebambo, said he was happy that the family finally installed the right person as the leader and head. He urged everyone to support him since he is the most suitable for the family leadership position because of his unrivalled passion, commitment and contribution to the peace and development of the community. He, however, advised Chief Kalejaiye to continue with the good service he has been rendering to the family and Iraye community and assured him of the continuous support of the members of the Iraye family.
Among the members of the Iraye family at the installation ceremony were:………………………
