By Ifeanyi Onuoha
Long before he occupied the ancient throne of Benin as His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, he was known simply as Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.
A rare photograph from the 1990s offers a glimpse of the man before his royal coronation, at a time when he had already built an impressive academic and diplomatic career but was still years away from becoming the 40th Oba of Benin.
Born on 20 October 1953, Eheneden Erediauwa was the son of the late Oba Erediauwa and a member of the Benin royal family. His education began in Benin City, where he attended Edo College between 1965 and 1967. His schooling was interrupted by the Nigerian Civil War, after which he continued at Immaculate Conception College, Benin City, completing his secondary education in 1970.
Photo caption: Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, now His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, in a photograph from the 1990s. The exact date of the photograph has not been independently established.
Decades later, the photograph serves as a reminder that behind the elaborate regalia of the Oba is a life that began long before the crown — as Prince Eheneden Erediauwa.
He subsequently travelled to Britain, where he obtained his GCE Advanced Level qualification from South Thames College in London. He proceeded to the University of Wales, Cardiff, where he studied Economics and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977. His pursuit of higher education later took him to the United States, where he earned a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University Graduate School in New Jersey.
His professional life was equally distinguished. Between 1981 and 1982, he had his first exposure to international diplomacy through work with the United Nations. He later joined Nigeria’s diplomatic service and represented the country abroad, serving as Ambassador to Sweden, with concurrent accreditation to Norway, Denmark and Finland, as well as Ambassador to Angola. He was subsequently appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy.
By the time he entered the diplomatic world, Eheneden Erediauwa had developed a career that extended well beyond his royal heritage. His experience in international relations, public administration and diplomacy would later form an important part of the background he brought to the Benin throne.
On 20 October 2016, exactly 63 years after his birth, the former diplomat was crowned Oba Ewuare II, succeeding his father, Oba Erediauwa. He took the name Ewuare in honour of Oba Ewuare I, the celebrated 15th-century ruler of Benin. He is recognised by the Benin Royal Palace and several Nigerian institutions as the 40th Oba of Benin.
His reign has continued to place considerable emphasis on the preservation of Benin heritage and the recovery of cultural treasures taken from the kingdom during the British invasion of Benin in 1897. His diplomatic background has also remained visible in his engagement with governments, international institutions and cultural organisations.
The young man captured in this photograph, therefore, was already much more than a member of a royal household. He was an educated Nigerian diplomat who had travelled across continents, represented his country internationally and developed the experience that would eventually accompany him to one of Nigeria’s most historic traditional thrones.
Photo credit: Alex Guosa Igbineweka
More sources:
- National Open University of Nigeria — biography of Oba Ewuare II.
- Vanguard — biographical account of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa and his education and diplomatic career.
Newsnow.Africa celebrates and wishes the Oba of Benin fruitful and successful reign on the throne – Editor.
