Meet Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade: The Alaafin-Elect

MICHAEL AKINOLA

On Friday 10 January, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde formally approved the selection of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Alaafin-Elect was announced after thorough consultations and divinations, and thus recommended by the Oyomesi and finally approved by the State Governor.

Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademola Ojo has equally released a statement to that effect.

The Commissioner said the announcement has put to rest, all the socio and legal bickering that have ensued since the demise of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022.

Ojo then called on all citizens of Oyo State to join the Government in celebrating this momentous occasion and lend their support to the new Alaafin of Oyo.

The Commissioner prays that his reign will bring peace, prosperity and unity to the historic Oyo Kingdom.

Prince Owoade is a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.

Born 47 years ago to a prominent and royal family of Owoade-Agunloye in Oyo town, Prince Owoade is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, the descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town in Oyo State, Nigeria.

The Alaafin-Elect completed his secondary school education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria in 1992.

His father worked for Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme (ONADEP) helping Oke-Ogun community in boosting agricultural productivity.

Taking an early interest in engineering, Prince Owoade began his engineering studies by completing his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State (1994 to 1997) and The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999 to 2001), Oyo State, Nigeria respectively.

He did his National Youth Service Corps with Nigeria Gas Company as Mechanical Intern/Planner in 2002.

On completion of his NYSC, Prince Owoade worked with Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri as a teller between 2003 and 2004.

The Prince decided to further his education in the United Kingdom where he attended University of Sunderland (2008) and Northumbria University (2012) from where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, respectively.

Prince Owoade became Certified in Project Management in June 2015 (PMP holder).

He is practical, steadfast, loyal, and reliable.

The Alaafin-Elect is the kind of person you can count on to follow through on anything he commits to.

He has a strong passion for helping others and has consistently been providing requisite support to relatives, family, friends, and the entire community, both home and abroad.

Little wonder he was collectively chosen by the entire Owoade-Agunloye family as the preferred candidate to represent Owoade family in the Alaafin of Oyo race.

Prince Owoade is a visionary leader who believes in helping those who are doing poorly to do well and to help who are doing well to do even better.

He held a Planning Engineer position at Oil Reach Company, Glasgow, United Kingdom for some years before moving to Canada for greater opportunities.

He is currently the Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, Canada (one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada.

Prince Owoade is someone that believes that, if we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it. He has always been a contributing member of “Egbe Omo Yoruba” wherever he goes.

Having submitted himself as one of the contestants to the exalted throne of the Alaafin, it is no gainsaying that Oyo town and Yoruba race will benefit immensely from the tenure of Prince Akeem Owoade as the next Alaafin of Oyo.

This as a result of his wealth of global experience, educational background, leadership qualities, sense of enterprise, conflict resolution skills, charisma, humility, and religious tolerance.

May his reign be peaceful, glorious, exemplary and full of developmental strides for the Oyo and associates.