Harry Akande, Business Mogul, Dies After ‘Brief Illness’ + His Biography
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Chief Harry Akande died on Saturday after a brief illness. He was 77.
”In the early hours of Saturday December 5, 2020, our patriarch Chief Harry Ayodele Akande passed away following a brief illness,” a statement issued by Olumide Akande for the family said.
”Chief Harry Akande was an astute businessman of international repute whose legacy and influence cut across continents.
”But by far his greatest passion was for a better Nigeria that guaranteed equity and justice for all. It is our fervent hope that this will be a reality in the not too distant future.
”His passing is a huge shock to his immediate & extended family, friends & associates. We are all grappling to make some sense of it.
”As we seek the repose of his gentle soul, we ask you to in turn to uphold us in your prayers while we pass through this very turbulent period of our lives occasioned by the loss of someone as dear as him.”
Akande was reputed to be one of the richest men in Nigeria. He was the chairman of Akande International Corporation (AIC) — with interest in healthcare, engineering, building construction and power.
He was a one-time presidential aspirant on the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP.
His Biography
Before the Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Dr. Harry Akande was the richest Nigerian. 2001 saw the publication of a list of looters and the wealthiest Nigerians, Harry Akande being much wealthier than the looters. The Punch (2001) front page reveals that Chief Akande earned $533 million monthly revenue.
On the 3rd of March 1943 in Ibadan Harry Ayoade Akande was born to the Ile Olorin compound Pa Joseph Afolabi of the Orita Merin, Ibadan, and Leader of the Olagoke families Mrs. Regina Akande of Oje. He began his pupil career at the Idikan and Oke-Bola St. James elementary school and at the Abadina school at Ibadan University. He also began his photographic career. Later on, in 1957, Harry Akande has admitted to Olivet Heights Oyo, and records from that institution revealed that his academic performance was not only great but also highly skilled in sports.
Upon leaving Olivet Heights in 1961, he graduated in Accounting and Finance with the highest honors in 1967 from Hampton University in Hampton Virginia, the USA with an academic bursary from abroad. In 1969 Chief Harry Akande won him an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, to become African ancestry’s first prestigious school.
Career and Accomplishments
Chief Akande has invested in more than two billion USD in the last 20 years in the execution of infrastructures in Africa and the Caribbean. Businesses in the electronics, aviation, telecommunications, management, and petrochemical industries have spread throughout this field. He returned to Nigeria in 1970 with KPMG Peat Marwick and Standard Oil Company in the United States as a financial advisor. Chief Harry Akande founded and became the president of the NAFTEC, a representative company of G.E America that then carried out the big Ughelli, Ijora, and Delta II-IV gas-turbine energy ventures.
He founded in 1976 in association with Balfour Beatty Engineering of the United Kingdom his business, Engineering and Energy Production Nigeria Limited (EPD). The irrigation studies of 47000 hectares were awarded in 1977 in Bauchi. Bagel-Zungur, Balangar, Kaltungo, and Katini were the regions. The Extension of the Metropolitan Water of Uyo and the Oyo-North Water Schema in the Ishan North. Yola-Jimena, Gombe Water Scheme, Ilorin, and Jebba.
In 1980, AIC undertook the Ryan Dam Hydroelectric Planting and Development, together with Wimpey from the United Kingdom, and in 1982, the Balanga Dam and Irrigation Scheme were built and supervised in Bauchi together with EPD. At the University of Health, Antigua (UHSA) School of Medicine, AIC established its first affiliate outside of the region.
His company also participated in the Osogbo-Ede Water Scheme along with Costain International. At the time it was Africa’s largest 35 and water project.
The Bauchi Water Supply Scheme in 1988, funded by African Development Bank (ADB), amount to $70 million, is one of the other projects carried out by the company of Chief Akande. The Benin city and the Warri / Effurun 35 and water provision project were both funded in 1989 by the ADB for a total sum of 120 million. $This is the preceding of several subsequent schemes. AIC was appointed in 1991 to supervise the full refurbishment and restoration of the National Art Theater in Nigeria. AIC has named 136 kilometers of four-wheeled dual carriageway, funded by ADB in 1994, as consultants for the reconstruction of Ibadan-Ilorin Highway.
AIC also carried out the feasible analysis in 1994 in Trinidad for the Point-a-Pierre refinery. The AIC method of water distribution built and supervised by Keffi / Akwanga, Doma, and Jos Bukurru, funded by ADB, amounted to $165 million in 1995. The Muritala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, $200 million AIC / Hilton Hotel was opened in 1999. AIC / Hilton Abidjan-500 five-star accommodation in 2000 priced at $120 million. Between 2000 and 2001, AIC Limited provided the Oyo State Government engineering consultancy services, engineering design studies, and the funding source for Saki, New Iseyin, and the Oke Ogun region of the state of Oyo. The estimated project amounted to $250 million and was undertaken to provide drinking water to millions of people living in the region.
In the state of Lagos, AIC Limited is currently involved in the development of the engineering design, the tendering documentation, and a source of funds for the Federal Government to implement a dedicated Lagos Fisheries terminal to provide trawling and fishing port facilities that earn Nigeria foreign currency.
Chief Akande has been linked to the development of the 1000-bedroom hotel Crystal Palace in Nassau, the Bahamas, and the Cuevas Bay Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago in How Africa. Chief Akande is popular in and around Africa, Europe, and the USA for making ideas a reality. His credibility among multinational companies and global leaders has strengthened. He is extraordinarily capable of guiding and completing projects in a good time.
Political Background
Chief Akande was the former President of the All Peoples Party (APP) Trustees’ Council; Nigeria’s second-largest political party. In 1999, he was the APP / AD Alliance’s arrowhead. Chief Akande, a nationalist without any mean order, was concerned about his Fatherland Nigeria’s stability, progress, and development. His reputation for initiating projects, providing funding for projects, and implementing projects effectively remains unchanged.
Family Life and community involvement
Was married to Chief Tolulope Akande and he left 4 great children: Olumide, Foluke, Atinuke, and Olawunmi. In 1979 Chef Akande, an active member of his party was awarded the honorary title of Agbaoye of Ibadanland as Chief of Chief. He has worked with AMFAR, the International Children’s Appeal, and several other children charities as a deeply dedicated philanthropist. Chief Akande was chosen by Hampton University, Virginia, to receive the 20-year Alumnus award in 1987.
