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• Empowers hundreds in Lagos community
By Kehinde Aderemi
Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, was an unusual day in Ikate Kingdom, Surulere, Lagos State. It was the day the Onikate, Oba Oba Lateef Adams, the popular celebrity designer known as Latris Fashion, celebrated his 10th coronation anniversary.
But instead of elaborate fireworks or a lavish feast, the monarch elected to chart a different course; he decided to make life a little better for his subjects through a mass empowerment programme.
That morning, Olaogun Street venue of the programme in Ikate was thronged by hundreds of excited people. Very visible, even to the blind, were rows of glistening chest freezers, lines of industrial sewing machines, welding machines, hand-washing basins and grinding machines, all set up like a mini trade fair.
The programme was the initiative of the Oba and was supported by members of the royal family. Oba Adams himself noted that
The Onikate of Ikate Surulere, reflecting on the scale of what had come together, noted that what had originally seemed like it might be a modest affair had, in the end, drawn far more participants, and far more resources than initially anticipated.
The monarch explained: “The initiative is simply based on the thinking that if God has blessed you, then you have an obligation to also bless those around you. You can see us handing out some cash to some people – 100 of them in total and each of them got N100,000. Some of these people sell bread, some cook and sell noodles and there are people who sell pure water among them. With that amount, they can add the capital towards improving their businesses and such would also positively affect their households.”
Newsmen at the event sought to know what had inspired such benevolence from a Lagos king. His simple response: “Empowering my subjects gives me joy.
He continued: “This is definitely different from what a politician would do, I am a royal father. Politicians get allocations and other allowances for their consistency. For royal fathers, government does not give us any such money. Even the little we get as salary is not enough to take care of the household. So, this is directly from me to uplift the people in my domain.”
Several of the beneficiaries could not contain their excitement after hearing their names in the list of those to be empowered.
One of them was Baba Mathew Aluko. For years, he had managed a small shop with his wife, where they grind pepper, tomatoes, onions and the like for residents of the community. In recent months, however, the machine had gone bad, and the family had been craving a new one. Oba Adams’ gesture appeared a divine answer to their prayers.
“What my wife and I have always done is grind pepper for people in this community but due to the issues we have with our old grinding machine, which has been breaking down and seems no longer serviceable, there seemed to be no way out. But with this new machine, we now have a new lease of life. I hereby thank the Onikate and his Olori for providing this answer to our prayers,” he stated.
Another beneficiary was Farouk Ogunriola. Farouk was an apprentice fashion designer and had completed his training three years ago. But due to the death of his mother, he had been unable to start off on his own.
“I could not afford the machine, as my mother is dead. That is why there is no way I would describe this machine as anything other than a miracle because there was no way I would have been aware, let alone have the connection to be able to get on any such list to secure this tool which is critical to my life. This is why I am so grateful and in tears hearing my name as a beneficiary of this empowerment programme.
“I express gratitude to God and Kabiyesi for this gift. May God be with the Onikate, the Olori and all their family,” he prayed.
Joseph Mary works as a hairdresser on Olayemi Street around the popular Kilo Bus Stop. She said a few weeks ago, some people came to her shop, asking for her name and phone number. The day before the ceremony, she got a phone call telling her that representatives from the palace wanted her details.
When her name was called at the event, she was handed a brand-new hair washing basin used in hair salons. She said she has been managing her old basin for more than 10 years, and had been quietly saving to replace it.
“I am full of gratitude to the Oba and his household. May Almighty God bless our daddy. Wherever the money to buy this came from, may the blessings go back to his family, his wife and children,” she said.
Azeezat Odubona Anisola was among the 100 persons that got a N100,000 cash gift each from the monarch. She said she sells cold drinks in one of the streets in Ikate Surulere. According to her, she had been hoping for a miracle for a while. She heard that the palace was organising something for people who sold sachet water and had quietly hoped to be one of those in the list. What she received instead exceeded her expectations.
“I sell drinks by buying ice blocks in the market, and you know how the market situation is now, with the price of ice blocks,” she stated.
She said when palace officials first contacted her, she was so consumed by the more immediate worry of what her children would eat that day that she virtually told them off.
“It was only later that a man nearby explained that they were people from the palace trying to help people grow their businesses, that they wanted to give a little money. In the end, I got 100,000, not freezer but it is enough money to lift my business higher,” she submitted.
Among those who benefitted were Bola Ayinde who got a hair washing basin; Noimot Lawal who got a grinding machine and Taiwo Morenike who got a chest freezer.
The monarch’s wife, Olori Risikat Adams, said she spent time identifying those who were genuinely in need. “I went round this town, maybe about ten times, to see the people who really needed it,” she said, expressing joy that the gesture had been well received.
”The people really accepted it. A lot of people turned out, not just because of the occasion but because they genuinely needed what was being given. I’m happy that we gave it to them, and I pray God helps them use it well, not to sell it off, but to use it to make money, to take care of their children. From there, their children can go on to university. The industrial sewing machines, the welding machines, freezers, hair washing equipment and are tools that they can put to great effect. Same goes for those who got the money, I’m happy we did this and pray that next time, we can achieve even more.”
Chief Olayemi Salami, the Lisa of Ikate Surulere, was effusive while lauding the monarch.
“We thank God for our Kabiyesi, Oba Lateef Adams. It’s been ten years since he was enthroned and he has brought real change to this community. For the tenth anniversary, after years of donating clothes, rice and other household items, he believed there should be something more to help people make money for their own families. That is a measure of the man leading us in this community who is always focused on how the people would benefit and live better.”
