Ooni’s Delegation Meets California Officials, Seeks Economic Development Of Ile-Ife

A delegation representing the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has held strategic engagements with senior officials of the State of California, United States, focusing on transportation reform and broader economic development initiatives for Ile-Ife, the traditional headquarters and cradle of the Oduduwa race worldwide.

In a statement on Thursday by the Senior Media Adviser, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, said the meeting, which was held on Tuesday at the office of the CA’s Secretary of Transportation in Sacramento, the Capital city of California was led by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, while the California delegation was headed by Hon Toks Omishakin, Secretary of Transportation for the State of California.

The engagement also had in attendance other senior California officials; Kimberley E. Erickson, Assistant Secretary on Communications to the Secretary of Transportation for the state of California; Toks Omisakin and his Senior Advisor on Strategy and operations as well as Dr. Bayo Arowolaju, Founder of the Bayo Arowolaju Foundation, as a member of the Ooni’s delegation who flew in to join Otunba Olafare from Washington DC.

During the discussions, transportation reform in Ile-Ife took centre stage. Otunba Moses Olafare conveyed the position of the Ooni, proposing a comprehensive modernization of the city’s transport system, including plans to gradually phase out commercial motorcycle operations (Okada) and introduce a safer, more regulated tricycle-based system.

He explained that the initiative is aimed at improving urban mobility, enhancing safety, and creating a more structured transport framework for residents.

The delegation also sought technical support, policy guidance, and capacity-building assistance from California to support the proposed transition.

Responding, Toks Omishakin, acknowledged the proposal and expressed readiness for continued engagement on transportation development cooperation.

He noted that California has maintained long-standing collaborations with Nigeria in transport, environmental management, and infrastructure development, particularly through engagements with Lagos State and other institutions.

Omishakin further disclosed that he has visited Nigeria multiple times over the past four years in connection with official partnerships involving the federal and state governments.

He said these engagements have included collaborations with the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Environment, and the Office of Diaspora Affairs, all aimed at strengthening institutional ties and development cooperation.

He also referenced a recent resolution passed by the California State Assembly, which strengthened ties between California, Lagos State, and the City of Sacramento under a sister-state framework designed to deepen cooperation in trade, mobility, climate action, and cultural exchange.

Following the transportation discussions, the meeting expanded to broader issues of economic development and international cooperation. The Ooni’s delegation requested that Ile-Ife be considered for similar partnership recognition, citing the Ile-Ife city’s existing international relationships, including sister-city arrangements with municipalities in Brazil, particularly with the city of Salvador in Bahia State and the city Rio de Janeiro.

Olafare emphasized Ile-Ife’s historical and cultural significance, noting its growing interest in global partnerships that support economic development, tourism, and infrastructure growth.

In response, Omishakin expressed appreciation for the engagement and reaffirmed California’s commitment to continued collaboration with Nigeria and African partners.

He also pledged ongoing support for initiatives that promote sustainable development, transportation reform, and international cooperation.

Secretary Omisakin hails from Ile-Ife, a technocrat in the field of Transport management and operations, he had previously served as Deputy Commissioner (Planning) of Transportion for the USA’s state of Tennessee for 8 years before being appointed by the Governor of California state; Gavin Newsom in 2019, first as Director, the state agency of Transportation and in the year 2022 appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of Transportation by the same governor upon his re-election as governor of California with the annual budget of 35 billion dollars.

Signed:
Sodiq Lawal
Senior Media Officer,
Ooni’s PaOONI’S DELEGATION IN AMERICA, MEETS CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS, SEEKS SUPPORT FOR TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ILE-IFE.

A delegation representing the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has held strategic engagements with senior officials of the State of California, United States, focusing on transportation reform and broader economic development initiatives for Ile-Ife, the traditional headquarters and cradle of the Oduduwa race worldwide.

In a statement on Thursday by the Senior Media Adviser, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, said the meeting, which was held on Tuesday at the office of the CA’s Secretary of Transportation in Sacramento, the Capital city of California was led by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, while the California delegation was headed by Hon Toks Omishakin, Secretary of Transportation for the State of California. The engagement also had in attendance other senior California officials; Kimberley E. Erickson, Assistant Secretary on Communications to the Secretary of Transportation for the state of California; Toks Omisakin and his Senior Advisor on Strategy and operations as well as Dr. Bayo Arowolaju, Founder of the Bayo Arowolaju Foundation, as a member of the Ooni’s delegation who flew in to join Otunba Olafare from Washington DC.

During the discussions, transportation reform in Ile-Ife took centre stage. Otunba Moses Olafare conveyed the position of the Ooni, proposing a comprehensive modernization of the city’s transport system, including plans to gradually phase out commercial motorcycle operations (Okada) and introduce a safer, more regulated tricycle-based system.

He explained that the initiative is aimed at improving urban mobility, enhancing safety, and creating a more structured transport framework for residents.

The delegation also sought technical support, policy guidance, and capacity-building assistance from California to support the proposed transition.

Responding, Toks Omishakin, acknowledged the proposal and expressed readiness for continued engagement on transportation development cooperation.

He noted that California has maintained long-standing collaborations with Nigeria in transport, environmental management, and infrastructure development, particularly through engagements with Lagos State and other institutions.

Omishakin further disclosed that he has visited Nigeria multiple times over the past four years in connection with official partnerships involving the federal and state governments.

He said these engagements have included collaborations with the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Environment, and the Office of Diaspora Affairs, all aimed at strengthening institutional ties and development cooperation.

He also referenced a recent resolution passed by the California State Assembly, which strengthened ties between California, Lagos State, and the City of Sacramento under a sister-state framework designed to deepen cooperation in trade, mobility, climate action, and cultural exchange.

Following the transportation discussions, the meeting expanded to broader issues of economic development and international cooperation. The Ooni’s delegation requested that Ile-Ife be considered for similar partnership recognition, citing the Ile-Ife city’s existing international relationships, including sister-city arrangements with municipalities in Brazil, particularly with the city of Salvador in Bahia State and the city Rio de Janeiro.

Olafare emphasized Ile-Ife’s historical and cultural significance, noting its growing interest in global partnerships that support economic development, tourism, and infrastructure growth.

In response, Omishakin expressed appreciation for the engagement and reaffirmed California’s commitment to continued collaboration with Nigeria and African partners.

He also pledged ongoing support for initiatives that promote sustainable development, transportation reform, and international cooperation.

Secretary Omisakin hails from Ile-Ife, a technocrat in the field of Transport management and operations, he had previously served as Deputy Commissioner (Planning) of Transportion for the USA’s state of Tennessee for 8 years before being appointed by the Governor of California state; Gavin Newsom in 2019, first as Director, the state agency of Transportation and in the year 2022 appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of Transportation by the same governor upon his re-election as governor of California with the annual budget of 35 billion dollars.