By Charles Pemu 
In the heart of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, a traditional ruler is rewriting the script of royalty not with opulence, but with chalk and a classroom.
Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, is defying age-old expectations by running a free boarding school for underprivileged children from across Nigeria. More than just a figurehead, King Abolarin is often seen teaching classes himself, determined to bridge the gap between privilege and poverty through the power of education.
The school, Abolarin College, offers tuition-free education, boarding, meals, and uniforms to children from low-income backgrounds. Many of its students are orphans or come from communities devastated by insecurity and economic hardship.
“Our children deserve a chance, regardless of where they’re from,” says the monarch, who left a comfortable life in law and politics to serve his people differently.
By stepping down from traditional royal grandeur and stepping into the lives of the forgotten, Oba Abolarin has become a symbol of progressive leadership proof that a throne can be a tool for transformation.
In a time where leaders are often criticized for being disconnected, King Abolarin stands out as a rare light educating not just with words, but with action.