The things mortals cannot now wish away may be bringing quite close him, the limelight he tried to avoid in the past. It is the way of our world to defer to this great epoch in sight. A world where republicans contend with the version of royalty that today still thrives in Nigeria.

Ewuare II, Benin Monarchy and ancient civilization known worldwide for its illustrious bronze heads and royal court figures, a highly developed social engineering and political organisation, is the persona in whose direction reverential thumbs would now be pointing.

Well considered, he fittingly defines what and who a true monarch is, contrary to the way that word is being used today in the media. A monarch (even if he cannot be sovereign in a modern state) should have a solid monarchy backing him and dating into the recesses of history, otherwise some other descriptive terminology might well be employed to describe the now endless number of Nigeria’s traditional rulers.

But for years, he appeared content with guesses about his mythic traditional cocoon, his views on contemporary issues as well as his thoughts on the future of his people who already know that he will be the one to bear the “burden” of their ancient cultural heritage.

As a princely specimen, Oba Ewuare II is similar yet distinct from his father, the departed Omo n’oba Erediauwa. He makes his own unique impression with a striking priestly handsomeness.

Oba Ewuare II is quite kind hearted. The story was once told of how the then young Erediauwa was prevented from donating blood to soldiers on the Federal side during the Nigerian civil war. Being the only student who volunteered when the reverend Father announced to his class at the Immaculate Conception College (ICC), Benin City, that blood was needed to save the dying soldiers who were brought in from the frontal battle line, he felt his royal background was responsible for the action of the school authorities rather than the convenient reason of “being too young.” He subsequently expressed his displeasure to his father who visited thereafter and the story spread!

He is also passionate about people empowerment and the freeing up of entrepreneurial spirit. He already said then: “Our people must be investment conscious. There is a beneficial way both private and public funds can be circulated for the advancement of society…What I find appalling with our entrepreneurs on the local scene and the so-called movers and shakers of the society is that most often people just flaunt wealth, throw money around and there is still primitive accumulation. It would be nice to see wise investment of funds to create employment. This is not how we should carry on for meaningful growth”

Born October 20, 1953, as Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa. He was the former Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdoms of Sweden, Norway and Denmark; the Republics of Finland and Angola. He also served in Rome, Italy and Albania.

The Omo N' Oba N' Edo attended the Benin Divisional Council Primary School, Benin City. Edo College, Benin City, from 1965 to 1967, and Immaculate Conception Collage (I.C.C), Benin City, from 1968 to 1970, where he obtained his Secondary School Leaving Certificate.

After obtaining his Secondary School Leaving Certificate in 1970, Oba Ewuare IIl proceeded to England, and studied from 1971 to 1972, at South Thames College, South West London, for the General Certificate for Education (G.C.E. Advance Level).

As a result of the Crown Prince’s love for education, he quickly applied for tertiary education and secured admission to study at the University of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, in 1973, and graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics (B.Sc. Econ.) in June, 1977.

Oba Ewuara II did not just stop at acquiring a first degree from the University OF WALES because of his quest for knowledge, this time around, he relocated to another continent of the world, America, in 1979, where he studied and obtained a Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA) at Rutgers Graduate School, New York, New Jersey, U.S.A., from 1979 to 1981.

It may interest you to know that His Royal Highness also enrolled for a Doctorate degree in International Administration at the University of London, United Kingdom, but had to suspend his thesis due to family commitments.

Worthy of note about this well read and outstanding Oba of one of the world’s greatest and oldest kingdoms on earth, is that, he also served the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, in which he is currently a member; and participated in the Graduate Internship at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, U.S.A., as part of A post graduate training in international administration.

Since 1987, Oba Ewuare II has been active in leading positions within the Nigerian business community, especially in the oil and gas industry, and prior to his diplomatic assignments as Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdoms of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, as well as Republic of Finland, Angola, Italy and Albania, served on the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and many other Company Boards.

Based on the foregoing, it is very clear that this new Oba of Benin is well armed with education and experience to take his kingdom and the entire people of Edo state to enviable heights. Without any iota of doubt, this marks a new dawn in Benin Kingdom.