BRIEF HISTORY

Early and Personal Life

Born on 25 December 1967 in Ibadan, Oyo State, to Late Pa Olatubosun Makinde and  Madam Abigail Makinde of Aigbofa Compouind in Oja’ba, Ibadan.

He attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Yemetu in Ibadan and Bishop Phillips Academy, Iwo Road Ibadan. He also attended the University of Lagos, Akoka Yaba, Lagos and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Electrical Engineering in 1990.

He was trained in Industrial Control Services in Houston, Texas in 1998; and Development of Analytical Competence at Lagos Business School (now Pan African University) in 1999. He studied Fundamentals of Crude Sampling at Jiskoot Auto Control Training Centre, Kent England in 2002, and Understanding and Solving Complex Business Problems at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA in 2005.

Professional and Business Career

Seyi worked for Shell Petroleum Development Company for two years from 1990 to 1992 as a pupil engineer. Thereafter, he worked for Rebold International Limited as a Field Engineer and Assistant Manager (Eket operations) from 1992-1997 where he designed, installed, supervised and commissioned several instrumentation projects.

In 1997, Makinde established his first business, Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited (METS), after working for five years (1992-1997) with various international oil and gas companies (IOCs), as the Engineering Manager. He is now the Group Managing Director of Makon Group of Companies.

Makinde is a member of national and international professional bodies notably: Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Oil and Gas Design Engineers of Nigeria (OGDEN), International Society of Automation (ISA), Institute of Measurement and Control UK; and American Measurement Institute (AMI).

Political Career

Engineer Seyi Makinde maintained that joining the PDP was not for personal gains but for the development of the State by finding lasting solutions to the array of problems facing the State.

On September 29, 2018, Makinde emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections for Oyo State, after polling 2772 votes at the primary election that took place at liberty stadium,Oke Ado in Ibadan.

On February 23, 2019, the Makinde led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secured majority votes (515, 621) to record an emphatic victory over the ruling party, The All Progressives Congress (APC), during the General elections. Mr. Seyi Makinde was elected into the Office of the Governor of Oyo State at the 2019 Gubernatorial elections for Oyo State which held on March 9th, 2019.

Awards and Recognition

• Humanitarian Ambassador Award, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan – 2014.
• Nigerian Union of Journalists (Oyo State Council)-Laudable Contribution to Humanity Merit Award.
• National Association of Oke-Ogun Students (Ibadan)-Merit Award.
• Fiditi Grammar School (Oyo State)-Old Student Merit Award in appreciation to the commitment, dedication, and service to the association and humanity.
• Junior Chamber International (JCI) University of Calabar Chapter -Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.
• Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Oyo State Chapter)-Gold Merit Award for immense and invaluable contribution to sports development.
• Nigerian Association of Social Workers Merit Awards (Oyo State Chapter)-Philanthropic gestures and contribution to Social Care Delivery Services.
• CCII National Merit Award.
• Maryhill Convent School, Ibadan-Academic Development Merit award
• Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Ibadan) – awarded Seyi “Astute Politician of the Year 2018” for his resilience with which he had continued to assist the less privileged in the society.
• CCII 2018 Most Patriotic Ibadan Indigene Award