Draft:Queen Ashley Folashade Folakemi Adegoke-Ogunwusi

Ashley Folashade Folakemi Adegoke-Ogunwusi is a British-born Olori (queen) and wife of Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), the 51st and current Ooni of Ife Kingdom.

Olori Ashley (as she is popularly called) was born in April 1984 and is the mother of Princess Fadesola. She is a Chartered Certified Accountant in the United Kingdom, with a BSC in Accounting, Msc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Greenwich London United Kingdom, Queen Ashley holds an AAT and ACCA qualifications which makes her a Member and Fellow of the Association for Accounting Technician (AAT) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom, and countless other certifications in Accounting. Queen Ashley is an Entrepreneur who has various businesses in the United Kingdom. She is the CEO of RISENCROWN Limited, RISENCROWN Property Limited, also a Director in couple of her Retail Franchises she runs in the United Kingdom which has been a very successful business since 2003.

Queen Ashley is the Founder/CEO of Ashley Adegoke Foundation which is a charity organisation that was set up in memory of her late father, Prince Jacob Adebiyi Adegoke who was a philanthropist before his demise to further his legacy, this charity is self-funded by Queen Ashley as a way to give back and to impact in the lives of orphans, widows, single mothers and less privileged in Ile-Ife, Osun State and across Nigeria as a whole.

As a way of honouring her late father Prince Jacob Adebiyi Adegoke who was a philanthropist before he died, HRH Queen Ashley Folasade Adegoke has carried on her father's legacy and took it upon herself to solely provide support to the less privileged adults and the less privileged children. Her vision is to continue to improve their lives, to provide them with education funding and also to provide skilful training to help them develop different skill for a brighter future.

Her Mission: "HRH Queen Ashley Afolasade Ogunwusi's mission is to bring hope in a way to inspire and empower the less privileged children, to help lift their spirit and create a lasting solution to poverty, Hunger and social injustice. Her aim is to help Orphanage homes by providing a loving home and family for every child within its care by making accommodation habitable and disease free through funding of various Orphanage homes, this is to inspire long-life learning, to promote family relationships and to also impact a spirit of responsibility, advanced knowledge and to strengthen every member of the orphanage homes and the community as a whole."

Queen Ashley Ogunwusi Nee Adegoke was originally born a princess, a blue blood from Ile-Ife. She hails from the royal lineage of the Lafogido ruling house, Adagba compound. This is one of the ruling houses and Ooni's dynasty in Ile-Ife. Now a Queen Consort, the wife of His Imperial majesty Ooni Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II CFR, the Ooni of Ile Ife and Arole Oodua.

The palace is not new to Olori Ashley as her father, Prince Adebiyi Adegoke is the great grand son of Ooni Adagba, the 36th Ooni of Ife Kingdom and a paramount ruler of Ile-Ife. Even as an adolescent, Olori Ashley's father lived at the Ooni's Palace, Enuwa Ile-Ife, as his Aunt, the mother of Princess Eyinade Omidiora (nee Aderemi) was married to Oba Sir Titus Martins Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi (Atobatele I), alias Adesoji Aderemi, the 49th Ooni of Ife.

Olori Ashley was unveiled as the queen during the 47th birthday of the Ooni of Ife. Queen Ashley has constantly celebrated Ooni of Ife on his birthdays over the years and the messages are always loaded with love notes. In fact, she often reveals that Ooni is her crown jewel.

In one of her birthday shout-outs, Olori Ashley referred to the monarch as ‘my crown.’ She refers to herself as the King’s wife as well, “Omo Olofin, Aya Olofin, Aya Osha, Aya Adimula’.

She wrote in the birthday message to the Ooni:

“To know you is to LOVE you… Father to the nation, husband to many… Oko Osho… Oko Opo.. Oko Aje… Ekun Omo Giesi.. Orisha Oke ti gbogbo Orisha ile ngba fun…Orunmila Oko ODU…Dagunduro…Akande MIi Ajiwe fun’osha… Olori Alade Gbogbo…Okirikiribiti….

“Igba Odun Odun Kan ni. If I could give you a gift, it’ll be to see yourself in people’s eyes and see how special you are to many. Cheers to many more years in good health and abundance of wealth ni Ase Olodumare. Happy Birthday my Crown Jewel ODU Aya Osha… Aya Olofin…Omo Oba”

Even the last Queen that left, Naomi Silekunola acknowledged Olori Ashley's presence in the palace while giving her vote of thanks at the surprise party organised for the king. She referred to Olori Ashley as the Princess of the Source and prayed for more queens in the palace.

Olori Ashely has always been in the handsome monarch’s life even before he married Olori Wuraola. To mark the sixth anniversary of the king on December 7, 2021, Olori Ashley wrote on Instagram:

“Six years has flown by so quickly, I see and pray for many more years to come on the throne of your forefathers Omo Ajinaja Ogun. Akande Mii Ajiwe Fun’Osha, Okirikiribiti, Dagunduro Oko ODU… Iti Omo Irumole, Ekun ton fin tori tori, Ekun ton fin tiru tiru, Adigimala awo funfun, while others search for what they can take, you have taken the weight of the world on your shoulders and always search for what you can give back. Your ascension on the throne has changed a lot of lives, not only in Ile-Ife but the entire black race. A true king’s power is his compassion which you show effortlessly. We acknowledge the good that we have in Yorubaland which is you my crown jewel and for us, it is the foundation for all abundance. Ade a pe lori yin, Ase a pe lenu yin, thank you for all you do for humanity. To many more years on the throne of your forefathers, in good health and in abundance of wealth. I remain Aya Oba, ODU Aya Orunmila, Aya Oosha, Aya Olofin Adimula, Omo Oba.”

Queen Ashley is about the longest person that has been with the Ooni, won his heart, and stayed till their marriage was consummated. She is a UK-born and based CEO who has multiple business including real estate.

Olori Ashley is a beautiful and deeply cherished Queen of Ooni of Ife. she is also very fashionable. She has some good qualities that have endeared her to the heart of the Ooni of Ife. Their Official wedding after 5 years of marital commitment, which was classy in all ramifications, took place on the 14th October, 2022 in Ife. The wedding invitation which surfaced online was from the bride’s family, and stated as follows:

“The royal family of late Prince Adebiyi Adegoke of the Adagba Compound in Lafogido Ruling House cordially invites you to the traditional wedding of their daughter, Her Royal Highness Omo Oba Afolashade Ashley Adegoke and His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll on Friday, 14th October, 2022 at 11am to meet with the groom (Ooni of Ife) at Enuwa Square, Palace of his Imperial Majesty. Marriage rites follows immediately at the residence of late Prince Adebiyi Adegoke, Ile-Ife, Osun State.”

In April 2023, Queen Ashley marked her birthday with a message calling on Nigerians to embrace unity. Taking to her Instagram page, Olori Ashley noted that God has been so faithful and kind to her.

“Today I celebrate life, I celebrate good health and God’s continuous grace. With all the bad things that are in the world right now, I think we need a message of togetherness and true unity. I believe that starts with personal reflection and then we can find kindness towards each other.

“Your soul needs time for solitude and self reflection. In order to love, lead, heal and create, you must nourish yourself first,” she wrote. She also paid tribute to her “loving husband”, the Ooni, her beautiful and supportive daughter, amazing families and friends “I say thank you for your love. The more I feel grateful in my life, the more joy and fulfilment wrestles within me. Cheers to many more years in wealth, good health and abundance of happiness,” she added.