Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the newly crowned Alara of Ilara, in Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Epe Division of Lagos State, has pledged to bring positive change to the community.
Ogunsanwo, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Epe, said he would use his experience as a public servant to attract development to the community.
NAN reports that the monarch was presented the staff of office by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Sunday, Aug. 16, at his palace in Ilara, Eredo community, Epe.
NAN also reports that the traditional ruler observed the three-day ceremonial, cultural and traditional rites that usually precedes the appointment of a new monarch in the community.
Ogunsanwo expressed his gratitude to the governor, pledging to abide by the customs and traditions of the land.
He promised that his reign would bring hope, joy and peace to Ilara, adding that, under him, a new Ilara would emerge.
The monarch, who promised to use his position to bring the much-needed development to the community, was unveiled as the 55th Alara of Ilara by the Council of Obas on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, at the Epe Council Chambers.
This followed the demise of his predecessor, the 54th Alara of Ilara, Oba Akeem Adesanya, in October 2018.
Born on Sep. 29, 1967, Ogunsanwo attended Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between 1984 and 1988, where he bagged a B.Sc in Economics.
He went on to obtain M.Sc in Economics from the University of Lagos as well as Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the Lagos State University.
Ogunsanwo is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation; Member, Nigerian Institute of Management and Member, Institute of Directors.
He was a former Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.
The Oba started his career with a stint in the banking sector before moving to a government establishment, where he plied his trade as a tax administrator for twenty-five years, rising through the ranks.
He rose to become the Executive Chairman of the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS), where he served between September 2015 and August 2016. (NAN)