👉 Relocate to Canada Today!

Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada

Culture

Top 15 Customary Rulers in Nigeria

Top 15 Customary Rulers in Nigeria – Nigeria is home to hundreds of traditional rulers who preside over various communities and ethnic groups across the country. These customary rulers serve as custodians of culture and traditions of their people. While their roles are largely symbolic today, they still command respect from their subjects and wield some influence, especially at the local level. This article profiles the top 15 most prominent customary rulers in Nigeria.Top 15 Customary Rulers in Nigeria

The Top 15 Customary Rulers in Nigeria Are:

1. Oba of Benin

The Oba of Benin rules over the Edo people of southern Nigeria and is the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, a position he has held for centuries. The current Oba is Ewuare II, who ascended the throne in 2016. The Oba of Benin resides in the royal palace in Benin City, the capital of Edo state. Historically, the position was very powerful with the Oba ruling over a large empire. Today, the Oba still plays an important cultural and spiritual role for the Edo people.


👉 Relocate to Canada Today!

Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada

Read Also: 15 Best Fruit Juices in Nigeria

2. Sultan of Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto heads the Sokoto Caliphate in northern Nigeria and is considered the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims, especially those from the north. The current Sultan is Sa’ad Abubakar IV who has reigned since 2006. The position was historically very influential with the Sultans wielding political and spiritual authority over the caliphate. Today, the position is largely ceremonial but still highly respected. The Sultan lives in the city of Sokoto in a palace that serves as a major Islamic center in Nigeria.

3. Ooni of Ife

The Ooni is the paramount traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, the ancestral home of the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. Ile-Ife is regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilization and the Ooni is revered as the living embodiment of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba. The current Ooni is Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II who ascended the throne in 2015. The position has existed for centuries with its origins tied to the founding of Ife Kingdom. Today, the Ooni plays a key role in upholding Yoruba culture and traditions.Information guide Nigeria

4. Obi of Onitsha

The Obi of Onitsha is the traditional ruler of Onitsha, a historic town in southeastern Nigeria that was a trading hub between the 16th and 19th centuries. Onitsha indigenes revere the Obi as both their traditional and spiritual leader. The current Obi is Nnaemeka Achebe who ascended the throne in 2002. The Obi resides in a palace located in the center of Onitsha. While no longer wielding political power, the position still commands deep cultural respect among Onitsha people.NYSC Portal

Read Also: 15 Best Online Criminal Justice Degree Programs

5. Emir of Kano

The Emir of Kano is the head of the Kano Emirate in northern Nigeria. Kano has been an important commercial and Islamic center in the region for centuries. The current Emir is Aminu Ado Bayero who was appointed in 2020. The Kano Emirate consists of several kingdoms and the Emir presides over the Kano Council of Chiefs. The Emir is based at the Kano Palace which houses artifacts dating back centuries. The position still carries significant cultural and spiritual influence in Kano.Romantic love message

6. Oba of Lagos

The Oba of Lagos is the traditional leader of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and its economic hub. The current Oba is Rilwan Akiolu who has reigned since 2003. Prior to the British colonizing Lagos, the Oba wielded significant political authority over the city and was revered as the chief warlord. Under British rule, the position became ceremonial. Today, the Oba remains an influential custodian of culture and tradition among Lagos indigenes. The Oba’s palace is located on Lagos Island.

7. Olu of Warri

Warri is an important commercial center in Nigeria’s oil rich Delta region. The Olu of Warri is the custodian of Itsekiri culture and traditions. The current Olu is Ogiame Atuwatse III who was crowned in 2021. Historically, Warri kingdom wielded power over a large area which shrunk under British colonial rule. Today, the position is largely symbolic but the Olu still commands deep respect from Warri indigenes who see him as the embodiment of Itsekiri history and identity.Good morning My Love Message

👉 Relocate to Canada Today!

Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada

8. Oba of Benin

The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler of the Edo people of southern Nigeria and head of the historic Benin Kingdom. The current Oba is Ewuare II who ascended to the throne in 2016. The Obas of Benin have ruled over the kingdom for centuries from the royal palace in Benin City. While no longer wielding political authority, the Oba is still revered today as the custodian of Edo culture and traditions. The Oba plays an important spiritual role for the Edo and upholds historic rituals and ceremonies.JAMB portal

Read Also: Top 15 Highlife Music Legends in Nigeria

9. Deji of Akure

Akure is an important city in southwestern Nigeria and capital of Ondo state. The Deji of Akure is the paramount ruler of the Akure Kingdom and head of the council of Obas in Ondo state. The current Deji is Adegbite Adetoye who was installed in 2021. The position is over 1,000 years old, dating back to the origins of the Akure kingdom. While largely symbolic today, the Deji still commands deep respect as the custodian of Akure culture and traditions. The Deji’s palace sits atop a hill overlooking Akure city.

10. Otaru of Auchi

Auchi is a historic kingdom located in Edo state, southern Nigeria. The Otaru of Auchi is the traditional ruler of the Auchi kingdom which is primarily home to Etsako people. The current Otaru is Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh who has reigned since 1987. While the position lost its political power during British rule, the Otaru still plays an important cultural role as custodian of Auchi traditions and mediator of disputes within the kingdom. The Otaru resides in a palace at the center of Auchi town.

11. Obong of Calabar

Calabar is the capital of Cross River state, located in southern Nigeria. The Obong of Calabar heads the Efik Kingdom which is centred around Calabar. The current Obong is Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V who ascended the throne in 2018. The Obong is considered the supreme traditional ruler of the Efik people. While ceremonial today, the position historically wielded significant political and economic influence in the region. The Obong is still considered crucial for upholding Efik culture and traditions.

Read Also: Top 15 Popular Online Products in Nigeria

12. Osemawe of Ondo

The Osemawe is the paramount ruler of the Ondo Kingdom located in southwestern Nigeria. Ondo town is one of the major historic Yoruba towns in the region. The current Osemawe is Oba Victor Kiladejo who was crowned in 2006. While the position lost political authority during British rule, the Osemawe remains a highly revered custodian of culture and tradition among indigenes of Ondo town and kingdom. The king resides at the Osemawe palace located in Ondo town.

13. Etsu Nupe

The Etsu Nupe is the traditional ruler of the Nupe people in the middle belt region of Nigeria. The Nupe Kingdom had a sophisticated system of administration prior to British colonization. The current Etsu Nupe is Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who ascended the throne in 2015. The Etsu Nupe holds court at his palace in Bida which attracts visitors interested in Nupe culture and history. While no longer wielding political power, the position remains influential for upholding Nupe traditions.

14. Emir of Ilorin

Ilorin is an important commercial center in Kwara state, western Nigeria. The Emir of Ilorin has traditionally presided over the city and its emirate. The current Emir is Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari who took over from his father in 1992. The emirs of Ilorin were among the most powerful rulers prior to British colonization. Today, the emirate has shrunk in size but the position still carries significant respect as both traditional and spiritual leader of Ilorin indigenes. The Emir’s palace is a famous landmark in the city.

15. Attah Igala

The Attah Igala is the paramount traditional ruler of the Igala people of central Nigeria. The position is centuries old with the Attah presiding over the ancient Igala Kingdom and serving as the custodian of Igala culture and traditions. The current Attah Igala is Michael Ameh Oboni II who ascended the throne in 2012. The Attah’s domain spans parts of Kogi state. While holding little formal power today, the position is still highly revered by Igala people. The Attah resides in a royal palace in Idah.

Read Also: Top 15 Highlife Guitar Music in Nigeria

Conclusion

Nigeria has a rich culture of traditional leadership and despite holding little formal power now, customary rulers still play important roles as custodians of their people’s customs and facilitators of cultural revival. The top customary rulers highlighted in this article are considered first class traditional rulers in Nigeria given their historic status and the sizes of their domains. While largely symbolic, these kings, obas, emirs and obongs still command significant respect from their subjects and help to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

📢 We are hiring writers!

Article Writing Jobs - We are hiring good freelance writers - Click here to apply

Copyright Warning!

Contents on this website may not be republished, reproduced, or redistributed either in whole or in part without due permission or acknowledgment. . Proper acknowledgment includes, but not limited to (a) LINK BACK TO THE ARTICLE in the case of re-publication on online media, (b) Proper referencing in the case of usage in research, magazine, brochure, or academic purposes,. . All contents are protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1996 (DMCA). . . The images, except where otherwise indicated, are taken directly from the web, if some images were inserted by mistake violating the copyright, please contact the administrator for immediate removal.
. We publish all content with good intentions. If you own this content & believe your copyright was violated or infringed, please contact us  for immediate removal.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button

It looks like you're using an ad blocker!

This website InfoGuideNigeria.com is maintained by the advertising revenue and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled. Please disable Ad-Blocker