The Eleta Oluyara of Iyara Land in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Oba Jacob Babatunde Meduteni, has died at the age of 75.
The traditional ruler reportedly died in his palace in Iyara after a prolonged illness. The nature of the illness was not disclosed.
His death has thrown the community into mourning, less than three years after he became the traditional ruler of Iyara.
Meduteni was appointed by the Kogi State Government as the Eleta Oluyara on July 24, 2023.
He was initially installed as a third-class chief before the state government upgraded the traditional institution to second-class status.
The Kogi State Executive Council approved the upgrade on September 26, 2023.
The monarch was formally crowned and presented with his staff of office on December 23, 2023, during a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, politicians and other notable personalities.
Before becoming a monarch, Meduteni had a career in engineering and corporate administration.
He studied at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the University of Calabar.
He worked as a Manager, Marketing, and later headed Customer Service in Kaduna before rising to senior positions in Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector.
Meduteni served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and later became the CEO of Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
He retired from active corporate employment in 2008 and subsequently focused on entrepreneurship and community development.
He managed his businesses, Newday Engineering Company and Nowday Farms, while also contributing to the development of Iyara.
Meduteni also served as the national president of the Iyara Development Movement for two terms, spending six years in the position before becoming the Eleta Oluyara.
His death has left the people of Iyara mourning the loss of a monarch who had played significant roles in the community’s development.
