The Onipokia of Ipokia dies in the United States at 55. Oba Yisa Sola Adeniyi Olaniyan, AHBEA founder, succumbs to surgery complications

His Royal Majesty Oba Dr Yisa Sola Adeniyi Olaniyan, the 46th Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom in Ogun State, also known by his royal title Orijajoogun I, has died in the United States at the age of 55.

The monarch, who was also President of the Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards and Chief Executive Officer of Afro Heritage Entertainment Company in the USA, passed away on Saturday, 27 June 2026.

Also read: Breaking: Mourning in Ipokia as Onipokia, Oba Yisa Sola Adeniyi Olaniyan passes away in US

Sources close to the Palace said the Onipokia of Ipokia dies following complications that arose from a surgical procedure linked to difficulty in swallowing. The cause of the underlying illness has not yet been officially confirmed, though associates described the death as sudden.

News of his passing has thrown the ancient kingdom of Ipokia, and the wider Yewa community in Ogun State, into deep mourning. Tributes have poured in from traditional rulers, politicians, community groups and entertainment figures across Nigeria and the diaspora.

Announcing the loss, the management of the Afro-Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards described their founder as a man whose illustrious reign was widely associated with cultural revival, community development and strong engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora.

In their official statement, the organisation said it found solace in a legacy defined by excellence, compassion and unwavering service.

Yoruba Nollywood actress Seyi Edun was among the first public figures to react, writing online that she remained shocked by the news. “Haaa Kabiyesi.

I’m speechless. I don’t wanna believe this news, I’m still in shock,” she said, adding her prayers for the monarch’s soul to rest in peace and for comfort for his family.

Oba Olaniyan ascended the throne of Ipokia on 12 August 2020, becoming the 46th Onipokia after a career spanning more than two decades abroad.

Before returning home to take up the crown, he had spent twenty-three years in the United States, where he studied Criminal Justice at the University of Houston-Downtown and built a career across aviation, oil and gas, and later renewable energy.

He went on to co-own NSB Worldwide Incorporated, a renewable energy firm, and served as National Public Relations Officer of the Yewa Descendants Union in North America, work that strengthened ties between Yewa indigenes abroad and their homeland.

As traditional ruler, he championed several development initiatives, including advocacy that contributed to the relocation of Ogun State Polytechnic to Ipokia and a push for the Ipokia University of Science and Technology Bill before the National Assembly.

He also led a fundraising drive targeting five billion naira for community projects across the kingdom.

His cultural work earned wider recognition barely ten months before his death. On 31 August 2025, at a ceremony held in Ikeja, Lagos, he was inducted into the Nigerian Books of Record Hall of Fame and conferred with its Fellowship, in honour of his contributions to leadership and cultural preservation.

Accepting the honour, he dedicated it to his people and to the African diaspora, saying Ipokia was on a path of transformation that future generations would inherit with pride.

His reign was not without turbulence. In 2022, a rival ruling house petitioned the Ogun State Government, contesting his ascension and seeking his suspension pending resolution of a legal dispute over the stool.

The matter did not derail his tenure, and he continued to preside over the kingdom until his death.

The Onipokia of Ipokia dies just weeks before what would have marked his sixth coronation anniversary in August. He had celebrated his fifth anniversary alongside his fifty-fifth birthday in September 2025, an occasion organisers had billed as a double celebration of his charismatic leadership.

The Palace and the Ipokia Traditional Council are yet to officially announce funeral arrangements or traditional rites. The Ogun State Government has also not issued a formal statement, though condolence messages from political and traditional leaders continue to arrive from across the state and beyond.