ELESE OF IGBAJA
His Royal Majesy, Alhaji Oba (Dr.) Ahmed Awuni Babalola Arepo III. The Elese of Igbaja was born to the family of Prince Disu and Ebelola of Ile Iya Oba Compound Igbaja on 24th April 1930. He is the eldest of the three surviving children of his parents. Just like the majority of his peers, he did not have the opportunity of acquiring western education before moving to Lagos for greener pasture which at that time was fishing and or trading for almost all Igbomina migrants to Lagos. He chose to join late Lawal Adadamunyun alias Baba Sidi at Ofin area of Lagos to take him through the rudiment of fishing, at the age of 26 years. After two years, he left and joined late Alhaji Atiku of Dikko’s Compound otherwise known and called Baba Adipanu as a Sales Boy on a monthly salary of six shillings per month. After a couple of years, he returned to Igbaja for a better onslaught and went back to Lagos to stay, with his maternal uncle, Alhaji Salami Iyanda Arije, where he became proficient in buying and selling both locally and internationally.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Oba Ahmed Arepo III has been a committed and patriotic participant in the affairs of Igbaja. His Royal Majesty was a member of Egbe Kajola of Igbaja, a founding member and an Executive member of Igbaja Progressive Union where he served as a Treasurer for seven years.

MARITAL LIFE
Oba Ahmed Arepo III has four wives; (1) Alhaja Adisat Mongu (Nee Adeoti) (2) Alhaja Aminat, (3) Alhaja Modinat and (4) Alhaja Mariam respectively. He is blessed with many children.

ASCENSION TO THE THRONE
After the demise of His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulsalam Olayiwola Areja II, the then Elese of Igbaja in 1985, Alhaji Ahmed Awuni Babalola was named the new Elese of Igbaja on 3rd may 1989 by the Kwara State Government and installed, turbaned and presented with second class staff of office by group Captain Ibrahim Alkali (Fss, Psc, Mni Fis, Ps(Nig.) the military governor of Kwara State on 9th May, 1989. Sequel to his impressive performance, he was elevated to a first class status in 1991 by Colonel Alwali Jauji Kazir (Fss, Psc, USAWC) the then military governor of Kwara State.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OBA AHMED BABALOLA AWUNI AREPO III
Sequel to his experience and age, he has contributed immensely to the  peace, unity, progress and development  of Igbaja and its environ. To promote unity, he ensured the grading of more Bales from the seven he met at Angua Meje of Igbaja District in 1989 to thirty-three Bales presently. It was also during his time that (8) eight Bales were promoted to 4th Class Obas within the District while Oniyaru of Yaru was further promoted to 3rd class Oba within Igbaja District. He also ensured that many Chiefs in his Council like; Agbaja, Bale, Olobin and Oloffa are placed on salary by the Ifelodun Local Government.
Oba Ahmed Babalola Arepo III works with the Township Development Organization, Igbaja National Executive Council, and they succeeded in bringing the following Development Infrastructures (social, educational and economical) to Igbaja.

1. A Campus of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin Kwara State.
2. UNESCO/NMEC Adult Literacy and Vocational/Skill Acquisition Centre.
3. Nigeria Civil Defense Armed Corps Divisional Office; and
4. National Open University of Nigeria, Igbaja Campus   
5. Renovation of Igbaja House (Hotel) (now Labenson Hotel) to a three star Hotel with beautiful and serene outlook.
6. Annual grading of Township roads.
7. Establishment of SABO MARKET which is mainly for food products, poultry, fishery and animal husbandry outputs.
8. Provision of vehicles motorcycles and financial assistances for Security Agents.
   

Due to his profound management skill and astuteness, he was honoured with Doctorate Degree in Public Administration by the Senate of Al-Hikmah University Ilorin during the second convocation ceremony on 29th September, 2012.

ACTIVITIES
Member, Kwara State Council of chiefs where discussion on chieftaincy matters and other important issues are discussed. Chairman Ifelodun Traditional Council, Igbaja where amicable settlements of chieftaincy matters are ensured. Head, Elese Traditional Council where all misunderstandings in Igbaja District are settled.