Chief Harry Ayoade Akande, one of Nigeria’s richest men of his generation is dead. Akande was regarded as one of the richest men in his generation. He was a one-time presidential aspirant.
According to a statement from the family signed by Olumide Akande, Chief Akande, Agba Oye of Ibadanland (March 3, 1943-December 5, 2020) died in the early hours of Saturday December 5, 2020. “Our patriarch Chief Harry Ayodele Akande passed away following a brief illness.“
Chief Harry Akande was an astute businessman of international repute whose legacy and influence cut across continents.
According to the statement, Akande’s “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.
The statement further said:
“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 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. “
He started his career with KPMG but soon established his own company, Akande International Corporation, in 1971.
He later headed a representative company for General Electric in Nigeria and handled major gas turbine projects in Ughelli and Ijora.
Akande was born in 1943 in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
