The Olubadan of Ibadan Unveils 5,000 Ibadan Guards Security Personnel

On Tuesday, 7^th April, 2026, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, announced over 5,000 community security personnel as part of a major initiative to strengthen security and safety to enhance investor confidence across Ibadanland.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Olubadan Palace with the commissioning of the Ibadan Investment and Economic Development House, a strategic hub for driving economic growth in the city.

The former Minister of Industry and Chairperson of the Olubadan Economic and Investment Committee (OEIC), Onikepo Akande, while addressing at the event, emphasized that sustainable economic growth is closely tied to effective security and deliberate investment strategies.

The former minister further lauded the newly inaugurated Ibadan Security Guard Corps as a visionary initiative designed to complement existing government security agencies and provide a safer environment for businesses and residents.

“No economy can attract or sustain investment without adequate security,” Akande said, noting that the initiative offers a practical model for economic transformation at both sub-national and national levels.

Akande explained that the OEIC, inaugurated on 23^rd October, 2025, has moved beyond consultations to implementing structured development plans.

According to her, the committee has outlined strategies to mobilize at least N25 billion through an Economic and Investment Summit, attract local and foreign investors, and revive moribund industries.

Other key initiatives include the development of mineral resources into organised industrial production, the establishment of the Olubadan International Jewellery Trade Centre in partnership with the Oodua Investment Company, the promotion of agribusiness through cocoa plantations, and the strengthening of urban renewal programmes.

She added that the newly commissioned Ibadan Investment and Economic Development House would serve as the operational headquarters for coordinating investments and implementing these initiatives.

Highlighting the importance of security, Akande said the Ibadan Guards initiative reflects a broader understanding that development must be built on safety.

“Security is the foundation of development. Without peace and safety, commerce cannot thrive and families cannot flourish,” she stated.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, in his own address, said the newly inaugurated guards would work alongside existing security agencies to improve policing and make Ibadan safer.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would deter criminal activities, strengthen the city’s security architecture, and create a more conducive environment for investment and living.

The monarch also warned criminal elements to steer clear of Ibadanland, noting that the initiative signals a renewed commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

The event featured the formal inauguration of the Ibadan Guards Security personnel and other committees tasked with reinforcing security across the eleven local government areas of Ibadanland.

Dignitaries present at the event included members of the Olubadan-in-Council, Dotun Sanusi; the Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Bode Amoo; and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ajeniyi Ajewole, among other prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland.