Community confers two chieftaincy titles on Sowunmi-Kolapo

The Itoku Traditional Council of Chiefs, comprising the Ogboni, Olorogun, Ologun and Parakoyi, and the Itoku Muslim community, have conferred the titles of Olootu of Itokuland and Ummu-L-Khaer of Itoku Muslims in Egbaland on Hajia Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo.

The community organised a reception in her honour in recognition of her contributions to the growth of Islam, the development of Itoku and service to humanity.

The event attracted traditional rulers, religious leaders, political stakeholders, market men and women, members of community associations, cultural groups and residents.

Sowunmi-Kolapo is the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and the first Ameerah of Ogun State Muslims, as she traces her maternal roots to Itoku through her grandmother, Alhaja Rabiat Bakenne (née Akinyele), who hailed from the Akinyele compound in the community.

Speaking at the event, the Oluwo of Itoku, Chief Olusoji Sodamola, commended Sowunmi-Kolapo for her contributions to the development of Egbaland.

Earlier, political leader in Abeokuta, Alhaji Moshood Akinyele, popularly known as Americo, described her as a shining light of the community, noting that she had made significant contributions to Abeokuta and Ogun State in general despite not having held public office.

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He explained that the chieftaincy titles were also an expression of appreciation for the Akinyele family’s contributions to the development of Itoku and its reputation in the community.

Sowunmi-Kolapo thanked the community for the reception and the honours bestowed on her, describing the occasion as a homecoming that reaffirmed her ancestral ties to Itoku.

She said: “I’m grateful that my ancestral connection had been established without difficulty, unlike some people who had struggled to prove their ancestry.”