CHIEF OLALEKAN BAKARE INSTALLED AS NEW ARO OBA ELEGUSHI OF IKATELAND, CALLS IT A PRIVILEGE
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
*OKAYS LG AUTONOMY AS ‘BOTTOM-TOP APPROACH IS BEST FOR NIGERIA BUT..’
The monarch and good people of Ikateland and its environs now have a new Aro in person of Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare. A true son of the soil, Chief Bakare will now play the role of his late father who held the position till his death in November 2020.
‘The Aro ile is a custodian of the house when the king is not around and my role is very significant as a white-capped chief of Lagos. It is a privilege to be installed by the HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Kusenla II of Ikateland to serve under him as one of the chiefs’, the new Aro said to Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper in an exclusive media chat after performing the necessary rituals that got him the enviable title In the Ikate kingdom.
Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare
On what he intends to bring to the table, Chief Ganiyu Bakare said: ‘these are times when we have to do things differently. We are blessed to have a young, vibrant king Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi who has a vision for Ikateland and its environs. You can see the infrastructure, the people and companies coming here. We want to attract more investors to our community in the area of tourism, real estate among others. We are also lucky that we have a Governor who is very supportive of the progress we are making here. They are opening up this area with road network. The recent one is the regional road from Freedom Way to Ajah. This is opening up Ikateland to the world to attract investment. We would continue to find a way to make Ikate safe and accommodating’.
The former Secretary of Apapa LGA shared his personal background, ‘I started off my education at Corona School, Apapa then my secondary school at Federal Government College, Port Harcourt. I then went to Ado Bayero University, Kano to study Business Administration.’
L-R: Oniru of Iruland, HRM, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun 11 and HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Kusenla II of Ikateland
‘I moved to Germany to study Information and Communication Electronics. After that, I worked with telecommunications companies in Germany and the U.K. I also have a postgraduate degree in Management from University of Liverpool.’
‘After many years I returned home. But I saw that Apapa was not what I used to know. Thus, I stepped into politics and ran for Apapa LGA chairman but I didn’t win. I was made Secretary of Apapa LGA and also Chairman of all secretaries in the 57 LGA/LCDA in Lagos. It was wonderful but then family called when my dad passed last year as the late Aro. It was time to bring my impact home as HRM Oba Elegushi asked me to return home.’
‘T’oba lase, the king has the authority, I am looking forward to giving my best to the king. I want to say to the Ikate people that we are here to serve and represent them’
When asked about local government autonomy, the former LG administrator said ‘It is a welcome development but it has to be in line with the state government in terms of hierarchy to monitor the affairs of the local government areas. A bottom-top approach is the best way for the progress in Nigeria so the local government has to be strengthened.’
Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare (right) being served with a traditional drink
Dignitaries that graced the Installation ceremony includes; HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Kusenla II of Ikateland; Oniru of Iruland, HRM, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun 11; White Cap Chiefs; Commissioner for Home Affairs, Lagos State, Prince Olanrewaju Anofiu Elegushi; Honorable Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda; former Chairman of Iru/Victoria Island LCDA and Arobadade of Iru land, Prince Abayomi Daramola; former Sole Administrator of Eti-Osa Local Govt., Princess Abiodun Elegushi-Anifaleje; Olosa of Iru land, Chief Rasak Aromire; Odofin of Iru land, Chief Saliu Abisogun; Olorogun Rasheed Muri-Okunola; Prince Tunde Oloto; Prince Fuad Oloto; Prince Balogun Olalekan Eletu a.k.a Sir Larry; Alhaji Kola Idris; Alatileyin Adinni of Badagry Central Mosque, Alhaji Mobolaji Ogunlende RAK; Prince Olumide Oniru; Oil and Gas Expert, Mr. Peter Okasi, Friends and Families of the Bakares among others personalities.
The White Cap Chiefs leads Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare to his resident shortly after the ceremony
HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Kusenla II of Ikateland
Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare (m) with the White Cap Chiefs publicly observing some traditional rite…
L-R: Honorable Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda and Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare
Hon. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Lagos State, Prince Olanrewaju Anofiu Elegushi (2nd left); Prince Tunde Oloto (3rd left); Chief Rasak Aromire and other Chiefs
HRM Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Kusenla II of Ikateland (4th right); Oniru of Iruland, HRM, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun 11 (4th left); Wife of the Former Senate President and Founder, Wellbeing Foundation, H/E. Dr. Mrs Toyin Saraki (3rd left); Hon Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda (right) and others during Dr. Saraki alongside other women courtesy visit to the Obas.
L-R: Prince Tunde Oloto with Oniru of Iruland, HRM, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun 11
L-R: Olorogun Rasheed Muri-Okunola with Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare
L-R:Wife of the Former Senate President and Founder, Wellbeing Foundation, H/E. Dr. Mrs Toyin Saraki with Oniru of Iruland, HRM, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun 11
L-R: Mr. Peter Okasi; Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare and Prince Balogun Olalekan Eletu a.k.a Sir Larry
L-R: Odofin of Iru land, Chief Saliu Abisogun; a Guest; Wife of the Former Senate President and Founder, Wellbeing Foundation, H/E. Dr. Mrs Toyin Saraki; former Chairman of Iru/Victoria Island LCDA and Arobadade of Iru land, Prince Abayomi Daramola; Founder, Green Wood School, Mrs. Ekua Abudu and a White Cap Chief
L-R: A Guest; Olorogun Rasheed Muri-Okunola and Prince Fuhad Oloto
Alhaji Kola Idris (2nd left); Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare (2nd right) and Friends
Prince Balogun Olalekan Eletu a.k.a Sir Larry
L-R: Wife of the Former Senate President and Founder, Wellbeing Foundation, H/E. Dr. Mrs Toyin Saraki and Hon Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda
The White Cap Chiefs
L-R: Prince Balogun Olalekan Eletu a.k.a Sir Larry and Prince Bakare
L-R: Founder, Green Wood School, Mrs. Ekua Abudu; Prince Tunde Oloto and Wife of the Former Senate President and Founder, Wellbeing Foundation, H/E. Dr. Mrs Toyin Saraki
L-R: Mr. Peter Okasi with Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare
L-R: Alatileyin Adinni of Badagry Central Mosque, Alhaji Mobolaji Ogunlende RAK with Olorogun Rasheed Muri-Okunola 
Aro Oba Elegushi of Ikateland & Environ, Chief Ganiyu Olalekan Bakare
BRIEF PROFILE OF CHIEF GANIYU OLALEKAN BAKARE
Olalekan Bakare was born on the 13th September in Lagos Nigeria to Late Chief Kareem Olayiwola Bakare and Late Chief Mrs Mutiat Folashade Bakare (nee Fagbayi). His late father was from the Elegushi Royal family of Lagos whilst his mother was the Oloto and Oniru Royal families of Lagos.
Olalekan is a Telecommunications engineer by profession. He attended Corona Primary School Apapa Lagos and Federal Govt College Portharcourt. He then proceeded to Bayero University Kano to study Business Administration before proceeding to Germany to further his studies at the BFH, Hamm Germany where he graduated as a Telecommunications and Electronics Engineer. He later enrolled at the University of Liverpool, England for his PGD in Management.
As a renowned Telecommunications Engineer, he has worked with multi- national organisations such as Interface Designs, Germany, Samsung United Kingdom, Sun Microsystems, Ericsson UK amongst others before returning to Nigeria and venturing into politics.
In 2017 he became the Secretary to the Apapa Local Govt Council and Chairman body of Secretaries to Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.
Because of his love, passion for the environment and concern about climate change, he founded the Lekan Bakare Foundation which aims at fighting poverty, global warming, and environmental degradation in rural and urban areas.
He is an active supporter of top NGOs like the MedicNG which is an active advocate against plastic pollution on our waterways and coastal areas of lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.
Olalekan enjoys Swimming, playing squash, Sailing and football.
He is a member of the Lagos Yacht Club, Apapa Club, Eko Club, Kingfisher Club.
He is blessed with children.
