In the evolving discourse surrounding leadership, tradition, and service in Ijebuland, Hon. Otunba Ademorin Aliu Kuye stands out as a figure whose life reflects a rare convergence of royal heritage, professional excellence, and sustained national service.
A Prince of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Otunba Kuye is rooted in a lineage deeply woven into the historical and cultural fabric of Ijebuland. He is the son of the late Alhaji Ishola Ganiyu Kuye of the historic Gbelegbuwa Compound, Gboguja, Ijebu-Ode, and the late Princess Adetutu Idowu Kuye of the Erelu Okutuwo/Sabe of Jadiara lineage, a recognised branch of the Fusengbuwa royal family.
Born in the early 1960s on Lagos Island, Kuye’s formative years were shaped by a strong educational foundation. He attended Christ Church Cathedral School, Lagos, completed his secondary education in Lagos, and proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School for his Advanced Level studies. His academic journey culminated at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar over three decades ago and later obtained a Master’s degree in Law, reinforcing a lifelong commitment to justice and public order.
A Career Defined by Service
Otunba Kuye’s professional and public service career spans more than three decades and cuts across law, governance, legislation, and administration. He served as Company Secretary of Vigilant Insurance Co. Ltd. and as Principal Partner at Adekanola, Kuye & Co., Legal Practitioners, before venturing fully into public service.
At the grassroots level, he served as Executive Secretary of Somolu Local Government (2003–2004) and later as Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government (2004–2008), where he gained practical experience in governance and community administration.
His elevation to the Lagos State Executive Council as Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (2011–2015) marked a defining phase of his public career. During this period, he played a notable role in the institutional reform of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, modernising its operations while preserving the dignity, hierarchy, and authority of traditional institutions.
He was also part of the Lagos State leadership involved in the historic dispute over the withholding of statutory allocations following the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in 2004. The ensuing legal and political battle culminated in a landmark Supreme Court judgment in favour of Lagos State, affirming constitutional clarity and fiscal justice, an outcome widely regarded as a significant moment in Nigeria’s federal evolution.
He further served as Senior Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Labour on Arbitration (2016–2019), contributing to dispute resolution and industrial harmony at the federal level.
National Legislative Impact
At the national level, Otunba Kuye has served two terms in the House of Representatives (2019–2023; 2023–present). He distinguished himself as a disciplined parliamentarian and institutional stabiliser, serving as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business.
Notably, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Government Abandoned Property, a sensitive and strategic assignment reserved for lawmakers of proven integrity, discretion, and national confidence. His legislative work has been marked by quiet effectiveness, procedural rigour, and consensus-building. Owing to his outstanding performance, a new committee, the House Committee on Public Assets was established in 2023, and he was privileged to serve as its inaugural Chairman.
Traditional Titles and Cultural Accolades
Beyond politics and national service, Otunba Kuye’s standing within Ijebuland’s traditional order is well established. In 2018, he was appointed Baba Egbe Obayori Okunrin (Asiwaju), Akile Ijebu. In August of the same year, he led the Ijebu age grade to the Awujale’s Palace to receive royal blessings and recognition from His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, GCON, Ogbagba II, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
As a Prince of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, he was later installed as the Otunba Ajana of Ijebu-Ode, a title conferred by the late Awujale himself. This honour is widely regarded as recognition earned through loyalty, service, and consistent engagement with traditional institutions.
A National Outlook Rooted in Custom
Otunba Kuye stands as a bridge between tradition and modern governance, a Prince of national outlook, yet deeply grounded in custom. His exposure across law, executive governance, legislative practice, and traditional administration has positioned him as a unifier, capable of navigating complexity with restraint and dignity.
As conversations continue around leadership, heritage, and continuity in Ijebuland, Hon. Otunba Ademorin Aliu Kuye remains defined by lineage, competence, experience, character, and historical legitimacy; a profile shaped not by noise, but by consequence.
