HRH Igwe KON Orizu III CON is over 100 years old. That makes him the oldest living monarch and longest serving on the throne, who recently marked 62 years of being enthroned.
According to Sun Newspaper, both royals view their recognition as motivation for continuous service. The Sun continues:
The revered Igwe Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, have described The Sun Awards as a morale booster for continuous service to humanity.
They praised The Sun for upholding journalism tenets and promoting the unity and wellbeing of Nigerians at all times.
The first-class traditional rulers spoke separately in Nnewi, Anambra State and Ibadan, Oyo State when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh, led a team to present letters of nomination as The Sun Most Outstanding Royal Father of the Year and The Sun Lifetime Achievement award winners to them.
Igwe Orizu and Oba Ladoja will be honoured with 34 others and two organisations at The Sun Awards ceremony holding at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on January 31, 2026.
Describing The Sun as a foremost newspaper that has maintained high ethical standards, Igwe Orizu III, who recently marked centenary birthday anniversary and 62 decades on the throne, expressed delight at the honour by The Sun.
He said: “I thank The Sun for this award. It is special to me because The Sun is a newspaper that speaks the truth and my people love it; Nigerians love it. The award is not like any other award.“
He promised to continue to serve his people, while thanking God for keeping him alive in good health.
“I also thank my people. I will continue to serve them and humanity generally,” he said.
Igwe Orizu charged The Sun to remain committed to the task of defending Nigerian masses.
He said: “Continue the good work you are doing; continue to speak for the voiceless.“
In his remark, Oba Ladoja, a chemical engineer and former governor of Oyo state, thanked The Sun for the honour and vowed to continue to render service to humanity.
Reflecting on his impact on the society, Olubadan stated: “We are doing this because we believe in it. We are not forced to do it.
“We take it as we want to serve. And I always say that if you are a politician, if you have an idea, and you are complaining that Nigeria is not what you expect it to be, why don’t you come in? Throw your cap in the ring, and then you give yourself an opportunity to see whether you can do better than others.
“I have had a good life before I joined politics. In fact, I found the position of an Olubadan more difficult than that of a governor. People believe that they have a right to you. Anything that happens in their house, you are their father.
“I look at it as a level of service. For you people to have recognised that after 70 we deserve some recognition, I want to thank you very much.”
The monarch vowed: “The only thing I can do is to say, I will continue to give service. In fact, there was an occasion when I said, ‘look, if this Olubadan is not going to come in time, why can’t I be a councillor in my ward? I would take my walking stick, walk around the ward and check out things. If a drainage was blocked I could ask the chairman of the council, what is happening? So, that I would not be unemployed.
“Now, I am not unemployed. I see myself as an employee. I have got a lifetime job just as I am having a lifetime achievement. I hope that I will be able to make a difference.”
Earlier in his address, Mr. Ukeh hailed Igwe Orizu III as an extraordinary royal majesty. “You are the oldest living monarch in Nigeria, being 100 years old and also the longest serving monarch in Nigeria, being 62 years as Igwe, having ascended the throne in 1963.
“As the 20th Obi of Otolo and Igwe Nnewi, you are a highly respected traditional ruler, mentor and one who has played a major role in facilitating the transformation of Nnewi into an industrial hub.
“You have also contributed greatly to developing the traditional institution in Anambra State, serving as Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council at a time and contributing immensely for peace and progress.”
Going down memory lane, the MD submitted: “Your admission into the prestigious Hope Waddell College, Calabar in 1942 and subsequent transfer to New Bethel College, Onitsha, set the stage for your lifetime achievement and ascension to the throne and glorious reign.
“When you began your professional career in Kano as a young man, you distinguished yourself in John Holt between 1955 and 1959; as well as the Eastern States Information Service. The story was the same at the Nigeria Outlook in Onitsha, and Mid-Western Region between 1962 and 1963 when you served as manager.
“We note that you are a great philanthropist and have once donated about 75 percent of the total land area needed for the smooth take-off of the then Teachers Training College, Nnewi from a family land. The same site is now being occupied by the College of Health Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. You also donated community land for the construction of NITEL Exchange and NEPA in Nnewi, as well as your personal land, stretching to about 50 per cent of the total land mass for the construction of the present day PHCN sub-station in Nnewi.”
Similarly pouring encomiums on Oba Ladoja, Ukeh spoke eloquently on how the monarch has contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria.
Ukeh said: “In many fields, you have left your footprints of success, being a rare breed of chemical engineer, shrewd businessman, savvy politician, and now a royal father in one of the most important domains in Nigeria.
“In the fullness of time, you became the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on September 26, 2025, just a day after your 81st birthday.
“You have one of the most eventful and rich political histories among your class, having served as governor of Oyo State, twice within one term – from 2003 to 2006 and from 2006 to 2007. That complexity came as a result of your impeachment on January 12, 2006, and heroic return to the same office on November 11, the same year.
“For 13 years, you distinguished yourself as a staff of Total Nigeria in different capacities. Thereafter, you entered into private business in 1985 and later expanded your business interests to shipping, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and transportation, among others. And in all, you excelled.
“In many of the battles you have fought, you conquered and you are still conquering. You dare whoever has the guts to challenge you. Your legacies are novel and you are an unrepentant stickler to your guns and excellence.”
He explained: “The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award is given to that man or woman who is 70 years and above, and has, in all his or her life, contributed much towards the development of the country.”
Credit: The Sun