Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has adopted Samuel, a 17-year-old boy, who drew his portrait with pencil.

In a post on his social media page on Thursday, the monarch also announced that he would foot the boy’s tuition up to tertiary institution and employ him upon graduation.

“I got tagged on Twitter a few months back from a young man who made a brilliant pencil drawing of myself, in my appreciation for his art I invited him to my palace,” he wrote on Instagram.

“17 year old superlative Samuel who is just about to graduate from secondary school has been adopted by me, his fees till his tertiary education will be taken care of by me, and he will be gainfully employed right here in my palace.

“Its clear that if we all work together as a people, irrespective of our special positions or privileged social status, we can deliver access to sustainable socioeconomic opportunity that suit our people.”

The ooni also narrated his encounter with Samuel’s mother, a corn seller, who he said demonstrated an “incredible heart of motherhood” in appreciating him.

“It was an endless gratitude for me meeting his mother who is a corn seller and who demonstrates an incredible heart of motherhood. She reveres in awe of the stool of Oduduwa at the sight of me,” he wrote.

According to him, the gesture was in furtherance of his drive towards providing support for young Nigerians who are working hard for a better future despite the odds.

“I thank God for the position he has put me in. Since my ascension, my royal stool is dedicated to ambitious young Nigerian populations who are daily pushing hard through the barriers of economy instability and uncertainties to gain better livelihood and reconstruct the multifarious challenges that are existential to our survival as a nation,” he added.

“I look forward to continuing in the mission of discovering beautiful souls and Samuels out there who need help and I will continue to help and support all that I can.”

This development comes weeks after Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, also recognised Adefeniku Imole, the young boy, who drew his portrait.