A Biography of the AAREONAKAKANFO of Yorubaland--

AARE ONAKAKANFO OF YORUBA LAND, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams

When the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland,Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams,was born on April 30 1970,

his parents,the late Pa Lamidi  Adams,and the late madam Dada Muibat Adams(of blessed memory) had no idea of the future that their union will bring forth the birth of a man that will later become the Generalissimo of the Yoruba race.

The most important thing in the life of a man,which is inherently part of  his existence is to develop great  qualities,attributes and values that can turn the world around positively 

It is a fact that the worth of a man is in the quality of his heart and the value of his service to mankind.

Some of the qualities that made Aare Gani Adams what he is today include that of courage and service to humanity.And he has always made this known through his style of leadership.

Iba Gani Adams' life story is  incomplete without a prominent mention of his humbled beginning.

Though he is from Arigidi - Akoko in Akoko North West of Ondo state, he is committed to the progress and development of Yoruba race.

The love of the Yoruba race truly earned him the most prestigious and coveted chieftaincy title in Yorubaland.

Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, is the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Global convener of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) and Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF).

A visionary leader, charismatic political activist,reliable champion of the rights of the masses,and a  culture aficionado. Iba Gani Adams has,no doubt, etched his name on the sands of time.

And like the huge elephant that cannot pass unnoticed, Aare Gani Adams was the overwhelming choice for the position of the first Deputy National Coordinator and now the National Coordinator of the group.

Thirsty for self-improvement in the present challenging world,he returned to school to bag a Diploma in Tourism Management from the International Aviation School, Tema, Ghana in 2003.

Not done, he went further to obtain another Diploma in International Relation and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University (LASU) and capped it with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from same Lagos State University (LASU).

Iba Gani Adams started well as an  active Pro-Democracy Activist in 1992. He pitched his tent with the Campaign for Democracy (CD), in the struggle to end military rule in Nigeria and install participatory democratic governance.

Gani Adams had a big and daunting responsibility thrust on his shoulders when he became the Public Relations Officer (PRO), of Mushin Local Government Chapter of CLO in 1993 and Member of Oodua Youth Movement, OYM, a pro-Yoruba self-determination group.He was a strong believer in the promotion of Yoruba cultural heritage.

His organisation, the Olokun Festival Foundation,(OFF) today remains the only Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)that is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Yoruba culture and tradition. 

He established the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), a Yoruba Socio Cultural group in the  Diaspora In 2011,and  made landmark feats in major countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America where he launched chapters of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU).

Today, OPU has registered its presence in 96 countries, where it has been launched, with more countries eager to join. It can be said that OPU is the largest Yoruba socio cultural association in the Diaspora spreading across all the continents of the world.

 It is also to his credit that a Yoruba socio-cultural organization has good representation in the United Kingdom, UK, Germany, Holland, France and many other countries spread across the globe.

Apart from OPU, he is also the Grand Patron of Yoruba One Voice, (YOV)a group of Yoruba in Diaspora  also spreading across the continent of the world. Iba Gani  Adams' midas' torch is also noticeable in the formation of YOV, a group of Yorubas in the Diaspora.

In recognition of his well-placed understanding of national and global security matters,Iba Gani Adams was also nominated to represent the Yoruba race at the National Conference organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2014.

To affirm his well-placed wisdom and understanding of national and global security matters, he  was made a member of the National Security Committee in the National Conference and Vice Chairman of the National Security Management, Sub Committee on National Security.

Aare as he is fondly called by his admirers, was in the thick of the battle to ensure that the military return to the barracks to guarantee the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.This can be said to be one of his major achievements in life. 

Aare Gani Adams has been honoured with many chieftaincy titles across Yoruba Land.

He had been conferred with over  65 chieftaincy titles, prominent among them is the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, which remains the grand commander of warriors in Yorubaland and the most prestigious chieftaincy title.

With all his strengths, time and tight schedule,Aare is lucky to strike a balance at home. His happy home is evidently reverberating with joy  through the wife, Ayinba Mojisola Adams.Aare is also  an homely and accomodating figure and he is so blessed with lovely children.

He is a liberal personality with a very large heart. For Aare Gani Adams, issues of religion is a means to an end, and not an end in itself. That is why he is always at home with both the Muslims, the Christians and the Traditionalists.

Aare Adams is, indeed, an apostle of the three religions.

Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams is the Baba Adinni of Amuwo - Odofin Central Mosque, baba Ijo of the New World Assembly and Apostle  of the Saviour Ministries, C&S Church of God. And recently, Aare Onakakanfo bags the FCIA honour

as a Fellow of the Chattered Institute of Administration (FCIA).