The Obaloyin conferment

Ahmad Abdulaziz Yari joined his family at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo as his parents received the titles of Obaloyin and Yeye Obaloyin of Yorubaland, an occasion he welcomed for its significance across regional and cultural boundaries.

The honours were conferred on Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari and his wife by the Alaafin of Oyo. For Ahmad, the ceremony brought a family celebration into a wider setting of unity and connection between communities.

A family occasion at the palace

The December 2025 gathering brought the family and guests to the Alaafin's palace in Oyo. Ahmad attended as his parents received their titles, sharing in an occasion that connected the family with one of Yorubaland's traditional institutions.

Senator Yari is a former Governor of Zamfara State and represents Zamfara West in the Senate. The conferment in Oyo brought the family's ties to Zamfara together with an honour bestowed in a different region of Nigeria.

Unity across differences

Ahmad reflected on the interregional significance of the occasion and on the strength that can come from unity across differences. He described the idea of a bridge builder as someone who brings people together, using that interpretation to explain what the honour meant to him.

That reflection gave the ceremony a meaning beyond a family title celebration. His response focused on connection between people and on the capacity of shared occasions to bring regional identities into conversation.

Others honoured

Barrister Seyi Tinubu and his wife, Layal Tinubu, were also honoured on the occasion. Their presence formed part of the wider gathering at the palace as the titles were conferred.

For Ahmad, the day remained closely connected to his parents and family. It was an opportunity to join them in receiving an honour while recognising the wider cultural setting in which it took place.

Family, heritage and connection

The Oyo occasion sits alongside other moments in which family and public life have met. Ahmad has accompanied his father to public engagements, while his own responsibilities include the City Boy Movement, Yari Messengers and Yari Sport Initiative.

At the palace, the focus was the conferment on his parents and the relationships the occasion represented. Ahmad's reflection on unity captured the significance he attached to a family from Zamfara being welcomed and honoured in Yorubaland.