Babatunde Akran, the Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I and Oba of Badagry, is dead.
The monarch died on Monday at the age of 89, ending more than four decades on the throne.
Until his death, Akran served as the permanent vice-chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, a position that placed him among the most senior traditional rulers in the state.
Before ascending the throne in the late 1970s, Akran worked as a journalist.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the monarch’s death as a major loss to Badagry, Lagos State and Nigeria.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Gboyega Akosike, the governor said Akran was widely respected for his wisdom, commitment to cultural preservation and advocacy for the development of Badagry.
Sanwo-Olu said the late monarch served as a stabilising force within the Badagry Kingdom, uniting diverse interests while upholding the town’s traditions, customs and cultural heritage.
He added that Akran played a key role in promoting Badagry’s historical sites and cultural festivals at national and international levels, helping to boost tourism and cultural exchange.
The governor commiserated with the royal family and the people of Badagry, describing the monarch’s passing as a significant loss to the traditional institution in Lagos State.
