The Iyara community in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State has been thrown into mourning following the death of its traditional ruler, Oba (Engr.) Jacob Babatunde Meduteni, the Eleta Oluyara of Iyara Land.
According to community sources, the monarch died peacefully in his palace in Iyara after nursing an undisclosed illness for a prolonged period. He was 75.
A Reign Cut Short
Oba Meduteni ascended the historic throne relatively recently. The Kogi State Government officially appointed him Eleta Oluyara on July 24, 2023, initially as a third-class chief. The prominence of the stool and his standing in the community prompted the Kogi State Executive Council to upgrade it to second-class status shortly afterward, on September 26, 2023.
His coronation and presentation of the staff of office followed later that year, on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at a ceremony attended by prominent personalities, politicians, and fellow traditional rulers.
From Boardroom to Throne
Before answering the call to lead his people, Oba Meduteni built a distinguished career spanning engineering and corporate management. An alumnus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the University of Calabar, he rose through senior roles in Nigeria’s power sector, including stints as Manager (Marketing) and Head of Customer Service in Kaduna, before becoming Chief Executive Officer of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and later the Kano Electricity Distribution Company, a post he held until his retirement from active corporate service in 2008.
In retirement, he turned his attention to his private ventures, Newday Engineering Company and Nowday Farms, while devoting himself to community service. He served two terms — six years — as National President of the Iyara Development Movement before being called upon to lead his people as king.
Community in Mourning
News of the monarch’s passing has drawn tributes from residents and stakeholders across Iyara land, many of them reflecting on a reign defined by deep professional experience and an unwavering devotion to his homeland, even in its brevity.
As the community awaits formal palace protocols and transition rites, attention now turns to how Iyara land will honour a ruler whose journey — from corporate boardrooms to the throne of his ancestors — left a lasting mark in under three years on the stool.
Additional details on funeral arrangements and the transition process are expected to be announced by palace authorities in the coming days.
