Ladapo Ademola
Oba Sir Ladapo Samuel Ademola KBE, CMG (1872–1962), also known as Ademola II, was the Alake of Abeokuta from 1920 to 1962. Before he was crowned Alake, Ademola was involved in the affairs of the Egba United Government. As a member of the Egba council, he was a leading participant in negotiations with the Lagos State colonial government in 1889 for the rights to construct railway tracks passing through Egbaland. In 1904 he travelled with Alake Gbadebo to the U.K., where they were received by King Edward VII. He succeeded Oba Gbadebo in 1920 with overwhelming votes from the Egba council.
| Ladapo Ademola | |
|---|---|
| Alake | |
| Reign | 1920–1962 |
| Coronation | 24 September 1920 |
| Predecessor | Oba Gbadebo I |
| Successor | Oba Adesina Samuel Gbadebo II |
| Born | 1872 Abeokuta |
| Died | December 27, 1962 |
| Burial | December 31, 1962 |
| Spouses | Olori Tejumade Alakija Ademola, Lady Ademola |
| Issue | Omoba Sir Adetokunbo Ademola and Omoba Adenrele Ademola, amongst others |
| Father | Oba Ademola I |
| Mother | Olori Hannah Adeyombo Ademola |
One of the earliest Nigerian traditional rulers to own a car, he was known to have driven a speed record of over 30 miles from Abeokuta to Ibadan when he traveled to receive the Prince of Wales at Ibadan before the Prince returned to Lagos after a Durbar at Ibadan. Under his headship, the Egba Native Authority continued infrastructural works in Abeokuta started by Gbadebo including road construction and provision of improved electric and water supply in Abeokuta. He was forced to live outside of Abeokuta in 1948 due to tax related demonstrations led by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a member of the regional House of Assembly, but later returned to Abeokuta in 1950.
He was appointed president of the Western House of Chiefs in 1960.