The Akran of Badagry Kingdom, His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I has died
The monarch reportedly died at the early hours of Monday January 12, 2026. He ruled for 48 years.
The late Oba Akran was a politician and journalist before ascending the throne in 1977.
He was born on September 18, 1936, the fifth child of His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Ajiyon-Kanho, the 17th Akran of Badagry, Oba Akron had his formal education at the Salvation Army Primary School, Lagos; Methodist School, Badagry, and Methodist Teachers’ College, Ifaki, Ekiti (1956–1957).
He was initially a teacher and taught at various schools in Badagry Division, but later went into journalism.
His career as a practising journalist began in 1961 at the West African Pilot, where he served as a diplomatic correspondent and chief reporter for the Post Group of Newspapers.
Thereafter, he joined the Daily Sketch as a senior sub-editor and later transferred to The New Nigeria newspapers as a senior journalist, becoming the Acting News Editor (South).
As a senior journalist, his outstanding performance earned him a grant from the International Press Institute to study at the University of East Africa, where he obtained a diploma with distinction. He also shared a prize on the Law of the Press with another journalist from Uganda. His Majesty has continued to support the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria and across Africa.
A frontline monarch and paramount ruler, he served as a member of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission from 1979 to 1983, and as Grand Patron, Patron, and President of various social, charitable, and professional organisations.
De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I is the Chairman of the Chieftaincy Committee in Badagry Local Government and the Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. In October 1990, he was elected by members of the Council to represent it at the enlarged National Council of States in Abuja.
The late monarch was a member of the Action Group, he represented Badagry in the Parliament in 1951 and was Minister in the pre-Independence era.
He was also instrumental to the establishment of the flagship secondary school in Badagry, the Badagry Grammar School.
