Prince Akeem Owoade Emerges as Alaafin of Oyo

Prince Akeem Owoade, a distinguished Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been appointed as the new Alaafin of Oyo. 

The announcement was made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, on Friday.

Born 49 years ago into the royal Owoade-Agunloye family in Oyo town, Owoade is the son of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, a descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade of Agure Compound, Oyo. His father, a notable figure, worked for the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme, contributing significantly to the agricultural productivity of the Oke-Ogun region.

Owoade attended Baptist High School, Saki, where he completed his secondary education in 1992. His passion for engineering led him to earn a National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and The Polytechnic, Ibadan, respectively.

Reflecting on his educational journey, Owoade once remarked, “Education opened the doors of opportunity for me, from Nigeria to the United Kingdom and eventually to Canada.”

After completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program at the Nigeria Gas Company as a Mechanical Intern/Planner in 2002, Owoade joined Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri as a teller, serving from 2003 to 2004.

Owoade later pursued further education in the United Kingdom, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Sunderland in 2008 and a Master of Science degree from Northumbria University in 2012, both in Mechanical Engineering. He became a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) in 2015.

Professionally, Owoade has worked across continents. He held a Planning Engineer role at Oil Reach Company in Glasgow, United Kingdom, before relocating to Canada, where he currently serves as a Project Coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in the country.

Beyond his career, Owoade is the president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services company. He is also recognized for his philanthropic endeavors, supporting various community initiatives both in Canada and Nigeria.

The Owoade-Agunloye family unanimously chose him as their candidate for the Alaafin throne. His appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Oyo Kingdom.

Speaking about his selection, a family representative stated, “Prince Akeem embodies the qualities of leadership, vision, and service that our lineage is known for.”