Barely three years after the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III joined his predecessors, Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade has emerged as the next Alaafin of Oyo. 

Prince Akeem Owoade emerged as the new Alaafin after the approval of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, stated in a personally signed statement that Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the Governor of Oyo State following extensive consultations and divinations.

Recall that it took more than two years to fill the Alaafin of Oyo’s vacant throne owing to a misunderstanding between the kingmakers and the Oyo State Government.

Here is a brief profile of Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the new Alaafin of Oyo

EARLY LIFE

Prince Akeem Owoade was born in 1978 in Oyo town into the royal family of Owoade-Agunloye.

He is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, a descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town, in Oyo State, Nigeria.

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

EDUCATION

Prince Akeem Owoade completed his secondary school education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria, in 1992.

He attended the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, from 1994 to 1997, and the Polytechnic, Ibadan, from 1999 to 2001, where he graduated with a National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

He decided to further his education in the United Kingdom, where he attended the University of Sunderland (2008) and earned a Bachelor of Science.

He attended Northumbria University (2012), from where he earned his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and became certified in Project Management in June 2015.

CAREER

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

He completed his NYSC with Nigeria Gas Company as a mechanical intern/planner in 2002.

He worked with Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri as a teller (2003 to 2004) upon the completion of his NYSC.

He held a planning engineer position at Oil Reach Company, Glasgow, United Kingdom, for several years before moving to Canada for greater opportunities.

Prince Akeem Owoade is currently the project coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, Canada, one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada.