Eheneden erediauwa biography
…A New Era Beckons
With Oba Erediauwa’s passing, and the primogeniture of ascension to the Benin throne, his first son, now Edaiken N’Uselu, takes over as the new paramount ruler of the Benin Kingdom.
The Edaiken is the heir apparent to the apex throne of the Benin Kingdom. The title, according to Benin traditional history, first came into existence during Oba Ewuare’s reign in 1440. The first Edaiken was Prince Kuoboyuwa. As the eldest son of the Oba and heir apparent to the Benin throne, he is groomed in the art of governance in form and practice at Uselu, a town of about five kilometres from the Oba’s Palace.
As tradition demands, the Edaiken normally has his own set of chiefs and his administration at Uselu is a replica of what is in Benin City. About the age of puberty {sometimes after 16 years of age} the Oba introduces him to all Edo people. The introduction ceremony involves the invitation of all categories of chiefs in the kingdom, important citizens, members of the royal family and well-wishers.
This ceremony establishes for the last time the person of the Edaiken to the people and thereafter there can be no doubt about who is the heir apparent to the throne of Benin Kingdom. It is not unlikely that this ceremony was established in order to avoid the needless power struggle between rival princes in the past, which had resulted in unpleasant situations. Before the Edaiken is invested with all the powers of his office, he must be initiated to the royal palace society of Iwobo, where he would be conferred with the title of Ukoniwebo. Thereafter, he must be invested as Edaiken before he proceeds to live at Uselu his official residence.
According to oral tradition, Edaiken is one of the Uzama who belong generally to the group of Chiefs usually referred to as kingmakers but in actual sense they officiate at the crowning ceremony of a new Oba. In Benin parlance, kings are born and not made.
When an old king passes away, the Edaiken remains in his
His Royal Highness Oba Ewuare 11
His Royal Highness Crown (Amb.Eheneden Erediauwa was born on a predicted date-20th October 1953 to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa who was then known as prince Solomon Igbinoghodua Akenzua.
Education
After his cradle tutorials, royal preschool training and primary schooling, he began his secondary school education at Edo College, Benin City in 1965. However, the Nigerian Civil war which broke out the next year temporarily interrupted his early education. He had to continue his secondary school education in 1968 at the Immaculate Conception College (I.C.C.), Benin City, where he obtained his secondary school leaving certificate in 1970.
After his secondary school education, he proceeded to South Thames College, South West London, United Kingdom (UK) in 1971, after which he got his General Certificate of Education (G.C.E. Advance Level) in 1972.
Oba Ewuare 11 remained in the UK to pursue a Degree in economics with the University College, University of Wales in Cardiff, where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in June 1977. He also holds a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Rutgers Graduate School, New York, New Jersey, United States (1981).
“ Among others, his overall academic sojourn has imbued in him, the experience needed to excel in life as a necessary complement to being born great
His quest for knowledge and abiding commitment to leadership and administration led him to the University of London’s Institute of Commonwealth Studies in 1985. He then started his Doctorate Degree programme in International Administration but later deferred it due to family commitments. Among others, his overall academic sojourn has imbued in him, the experience needed to excel in life as a necessary complement to being born great.
Initial Public Service & Administration
After his formal education, he served as a graduate intern in the United Nations Organisation (UN) in 1981. H Oba of Benin (2016–present) Ewuare II (born 20 October 1953) was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300. Eheneden Erediauwa, as he was known before becoming Oba of Benin, attended Edo College in Benin City (Nigeria) from 1965 to 1967 and Immaculate Conception College from 1968 to 1970. He got his A-Level Certificate from South Thames College, London. He graduated with an Economics degree from the University of Wales, UK and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University Graduate School, New Jersey, USA. He worked at the United Nations between 1981 and 1982. He also served as Nigeria's Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark and the Republic of Finland. He was also Nigeria's Ambassador to Italy. Ewuare II chose his name as tribute to the 15th-century Ewuare I. Since his ascension to the throne, Ewuare II worked closely with Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State from 2016 to 2024. Like many of his predecessors, he started his rule by demanding that the spiritually and historically important Benin Bronzes that were stolen in 1897 by the British Empire be returned to his people. In October 2017, he celebrated his first anniversary on the throne, with great participation by the local populace as well as several officials, politicians, and visitors from other parts of Nigeria such as Lagos, Calabar, and Jos. The Sokoto Sultanate Council and Ile-Ife's royal family also sent representatives to take part in the celebrations. In 2018, Ewuare II issued a curse against any juju priest involved in carrying out human trafficking within his domain, and he publicly revoked all curses used by pri Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa (22 June 1923 – April 2016) was the 39th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Formerly known as Prince Solomon Akenzua, Oba Erediauwa's full title was His Royal Majesty Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I. He was succeeded by Ewuare II. Oba Erediauwa took on the title and duties as traditional head of state and rightful heir of the Benin Empire when he was crowned, succeeding his father, Oba Akenzua II, in a ceremony held in Benin City, Nigeria, on 23 March 1979. Erediauwa was born on 22 June 1923, son of Oba Akenzua II. Before being crowned he was known as Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua. He attended Government College, Ibadan (1939–1945), then Yaba College, before going to King's College, Cambridge to study Law and Administration. He joined the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service in 1957 as a District Officer, later moving to the Federal Civil Service where he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in 1973. For a short period he was the regional representative of Gulf Oil. In 1975, he was appointed Commissioner for Finance in Bendel State during the Military Administration of Major-General George Agbazika Innih. Ascending to the throne on 23 March 1979, Erediauwa celebrated his 30th anniversary in 2009. During this period, he several times acted as a peacemaker between politicians. For example, he intervened in a dispute between Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu and Tony Anenih, Chairman of the People's Democratic Party Board of Trustees, and resolved another face-off involving Anenih and former Edo State Governor Lucky Igbinedion. Apart from the ceremonial aspects, his 30th anniversary festival was a week long carnival and a showcase of Benin arts and culture, with numerous performances of traditional music and danc Ewuare II
Education
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Reign
Erediauwa
Biography