Lead Chair, Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival
Visionary of the 25-Year Development Agenda for Ogbomosoland

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, is the 21st Soun of Ogbomosoland, ascending the throne in September 2023 as a monarch of both spiritual depth and global exposure. Oba Olaoye brought into traditional leadership a compelling blend of faith, discipline, development vision, and leadership experience, having served in Nigeria, and the United States.

As the Lead Chair of the Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival, Kabiyesi initiated this landmark cultural renaissance as part of his broader 25-Year Vision to transform Ogbomosoland into a model city that thrives on its heritage, human capital, and economic potential. His approach to kingship has been strategic, inclusive, and reform-driven, engaging over 13 thematic committees in sectors ranging from infrastructure and health to education and culture.

Understanding the intrinsic value of culture in shaping community consciousness and development, Oba Olaoye inaugurated the Cultural and Tourism Committee in 2024, tasking it with the responsibility of ideating and executing the maiden Ogbomoso Cradle Carnival. His vision was not simply to organize a festival, but to ignite a cultural movement that reclaims Ogbomoso’s historical place in Yoruba civilization and projects it globally as a rising center for heritage tourism and innovation.

Kabiyesi’s commitment to intergenerational engagement, diaspora inclusion, and heritage preservation is evident in the structure and execution of the carnival. Under his leadership, the Cradle Carnival has become a platform for economic stimulation, community bonding, and cultural education.

Widely admired for his humility, foresight, and authenticity, Oba Olaoye continues to inspire a new era of transformational traditional leadership—grounded in ancestral values but equipped for modern governance and development.