Prince Akeem Owoade, a Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been approved as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, announced the appointment on Friday through the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.
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 49 years ago to a prominent and royal family of Owoade-Agunloye in Oyo town, Owoade is one of the surviving children of Pa Rasaki Ibiyosi Owoade, the descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade, Agure Compound, Oyo town.
Owoade completed his secondary school education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria, in 1992.
His father worked for the Oyo North Agricultural Development Programme, helping the Oke-Ogun community in boosting agricultural productivity.
Taking an early interest in engineering, 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.
He did his national youth service with Nigeria Gas Company as a Mechanical Intern/Planner in 2002.
After the completion of his NYSC, he worked with Oceanic Bank International Plc. in Warri, Delta State as a teller from 2003 to 2004.
Owoade decided to further his education in the United Kingdom, where he attended the University of Sunderland (2008) and Northumbria University (2012) from where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, respectively.
He became certified in Project Management in June 2015 (PMP holder).
He was chosen by the Owoade-Agunloye family as the preferred candidate to represent the Owoade family in the Alaafin of Oyo race.
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 the Project Coordinator at one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada, Manitoba Hydro.