#ObaofBenincoronation: 6 vital facts to know about the new Oba of Benin

In Benin, the entire city is red, major streets are red with posters, banners and billboards congratulating the new monarch as the Oba of Benin coronation happens today, October 20, 2016. Prince Eheneden Erediauwa is taking over his father’s throne as the Bini tradition stipulates, following the passing away of his father, Oba Erediauwa. Here are some facts about Prince Eheneden Erediauwa: 

1. Background

The Crown Prince is 63 years old 

Prince Erediauwa was born in 1953 as the eldest son of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba Erediauwa, Uku Akpolokpolo, which means Oba of Benin, the possessor and custodian of this unbridled heritage which had gone way back into thousands of years. He was formally installed as the Edaiken of Uselu, Benin Kingdom on March 12, 2016. He is to become the 39th Oba of Benin kingdom. 

2. Basic Education
He attended the 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, he 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).

3. Further Education
For his tertiary education, he applied to 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 in June, 1977. Prince Erediauwa, Edaiken N’Uselu, then relocated to 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.

4. Family responsibilities and a return to Nigeria
Eventually he 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. Upon his return to Nigeria to assume family responsibilities, he also served the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos. 

5. Career 
He is currently a member of the Nigerian Institute of International affairs and after his NYSC he participated in the graduate internship at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, as part of a post graduate training in international administration. He has been very active in the oil and gas industry, and prior to his diplomatic 
assignments as Nigerian ambassador to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, as well as Republic of Finland, Angola, Italy and Albania, he served on the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and many other companies. 

6. Family life

The crown prince is married to three wives: Princess Iroghama, (Obazuaye N’Erie), Princess Iyayiota, (Obazuwa N’Erie) Princess Ikpakpa (Ohe N’Erie) and he was recently blessed with a son named Prince Igbinosa Erediauwa.