Why Ooni Is Showing Folarin “Foli” Coker So Much Love

It’s is confirmed.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has named Folorunsho Folarin Coker, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) “Baba Eto” of Odualand.

This confirmation was made by Morounranti Ashabi, one of the prominent faces in the affairs of the palace of Ooni of Ife.

Ashabi, who is impacting lives with Helping Hands Relief Endowment Foundation is one of the two Yoruba Culture Ambassadors appointed by the Ooni of Ife ( The other is Dotun Taylor who is handling Diaspora).

“Ọ̀ọniriṣa pronounces Chief Folorunso Folarin Coker as the Baba Èto of Oodua land. Stay tuned” the Cultural Ambassador posted in reaction to emerging news about the recognition given the NTDC D.G.

The checks made by societynow.ng has revealed why the Ooni of Ife has shown the nation’s number one tourism boss so much love with the “Baba-Eto” of Oodua land title.

The Ooni is said to have provided a deep insight into his reasons on Sunday, September 19, 2021, in Ile-Ife during the famous annual Olojo Festival.

A report monitored by societynow.ng on independent.ng asserted that “The Ooni described Folarin Coker as one of the finest cosmopolitan Yoruba products, who despite their aristocratic background and intercontinental exposure, never allowed that to becloud their robust sense of cultural appreciation of their root as Yoruba…

“…that Folarin Coker is an’ Omoluabi ponbele’ – a first-class and thoroughbred Yoruba, who is properly brought up in Yoruba tradition and culture and who has never distanced himself from identifying with his background as a Yoruba.

“…that Folarin Coker has expanded his coast from Lagos to Kaura Namoda and from Port- Harcourt to Maiduguri via his performance as the Director-General of NTDC, where he has not only been marketing and enhancing Nigeria’s tourism potentialities to the world but has also been strategically and consistently packaging and branding Nigeria foods to all on a global platform”.

Further checks revealed that the father of the NTDC Boss, the late “Elderman” Nathaniel Folarin Coker brought class and panache to the “Baba Eto” chieftaincy title.

He was the “Baba Eto” of Lagos and conducted himself in such a manner that many aspired to be named and address as “Baba Eto”.

His son, Folorunsho Folarin Coker has elevated the family’s ranking with the recognition by the Ooni of Ife as “Baba Eto of Oodua Land”.

Before this elevation, the NTDC Boss had been named the “Baba Eto” of Ilara Kingdom in Epe, Lagos State.

The significance of the honor bestowed on Folorunsho Coker by the Ooni – because of his standing in the comity of Obas (Kings) – is that the NTDC D.G outranks all other “Baba Eto” home and abroad.