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Makinde - Profile of Oyo Guber PDP Aspirant(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The appearance of Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde on Nigeria's political turf in the last couple of years has been dramatic and awesome. Though, yet to make it to any political office, he seems set and determined in his current aspiration to govern Oyo State through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ticket of which he is gunning for alongside others of no mean repute. Who is this young man making political waves in the Pace Setter state? Early Life: Born over four decades ago to the family of Pa and Mrs Olatubosun Makinde of Ibadan, the young Makinde attended and finished from a public secondary school, Bishop Philip's Academy, Iwo Road, Ibadan, in 1985, from where he proceeded to the prestigious University of Lagos, Akoka. Upon graduation with B.Sc in electrical/electronic engineering in 1990, he did his national service (NYSC) with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), where he was later engaged as a pupil engineer between 1990 and1992. Building career: His post-graduation and NYSC has been eventful and career-driven. He served as either Field Manager or Assistant Manager. Under this portfolio, Makinde worked on projects such as telemetry revamping, preventive maintenance, instruments repairs and commissioning of crude oil heaters on behalf of SPDC Nigeria, Agip Oil Company of Nigeria, Mobil Producing Nigeria Ltd, all in Port Harcourt. Career progression: As a pupil engineer, he achieved among others; working in instrumentation and control operations of flow stations, compression stations and gas plants, rendering supportive efforts in design reviews, supervision and commissioning of instrumentation projects. He participated in the recalibration of flow transmitters at Imo River Compression Station, participated in the change control from UV to Smoke Detection at Imo River Compression Station. He worked with the team that located Petrotech Well Head Control Panel at Obigbo North Well-46 and commissioning of Alesa Eleme Refinery Crude Supply Facilities. He provided support for the Daniel Engineer in the pre-commissioning checks on the skid mounted instruments calibration and installation of differential pressure indication switches across the strainers as well as installation of new EPROM for the database flow computer. Makinde is an engineer with extensive knowledge of Project Management, Business Development, Financial Management, Cost Control, Implementation of Policies and a business solution provider with required competencies and capabilities. Skills and knowledge to succeed in these areas were acquired over a period of 24 years working on mega projects either as project owner/promoter or executor within the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industry in Nigeria and elsewhere. An entrepreneur: A workaholic, visionary and career-driven Seyi did not lose sight and ambition to build his own burgeoning business empire. As he was running the businesses of the big oil companies, simultaneously, he did not leave a hold of his own business, taking from the drive of successful men in the world, like Robert Kiyosaki who believes that one can only be rich when one moves from being a salary earner, to business owner and then to an investor, the chains or rules which he has observed. In 1997, Seyi Makinde founded Makon Engineering and Technical Services Company, of which he was its Managing Director till 2002 when the company transformed in corporate status into Makon Group of Companies. Upon change in status of his company, he assumed a new portfolio with higher and expanded responsibilities. He became the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Makon Group of Companies. Coincidentally, the versatile engineer, Makinde was appointed as Field Manager (Assistant) by Rebold International Ltd in 2002. As GMD of Makon Group, Engineer Makinde sees to Business Strategies and Management of the company; he manages the Group's risk profile, including the health and safety performance of the business, in line with the extent and categories of risk identified as acceptable in the industry; he examines all investments and major capital expenditure proposed by the subsidiary companies. Others are approval of major business decisions of all sister companies and setting the Group's HR policies, including management development and succession planning for the senior executive team and approval of appointments. Seeking for More Knowledge: Makinde, despite being a workaholic, has never lagged in updating himself academically and professionally. The trainings he has undergone, both home and abroad, after graduation include but not limited to Reagent Safety Shutdown System (1998), Developing Analytical Competence for Managing Operations Programme (1999), Automation (2000), Fundamentals of Crude Sampling (2002), Measurement Quality (2002) and he is currently pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Management and Leadership at Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the United States of America (USA). Philanthropic Gestures: Way back at conception, it was not known, perhaps, that a colossus that would bestride humanity with exceptional humanitarian passion through his God-given skills, talents and wealth would be born. It could not have been imagined then that the birth of little Seyi was a blessing to Ibadan and Oyo State in particular and Nigeria and the world over in general and this began to manifest maturely in 1990s, and still manifesting till date. Though, Makinde is yet to hold any political office, but he has proved that one doesn't need to hold political office to show concern about others. He has among others touched the lives of people in diverse ways through construction of a block of three classrooms for his alma mater, Bishop Philip's Academy, Ibadan, which was equipped with information and communication technology gadgets such as computers and a 5 KVA generating set to power them and scholarships to outstanding students from Bishop Philip's Academy. He has committed a lot of money to the empowerment of less privileged youths and elderly in the society, sinking of boreholes at various communities in Oyo State, procurement of medical equipment and dispensing of medication to the aged, sponsorship of a medical team from the USA to Nigeria, sponsorship of construction of website for the Federation of Ibadan Students Union and construction of gas-powered turbine to generate independent power (electricity) at Ajia Town in Ibadan, which was inaugurated on September 17, 2011. Makinde also constructed Programmable Logic Control (PLC) laboratory for his alma mater, the University of Lagos, Department of Electrical Engineering in 2011 and engages in annual sponsorship of pilgrims to the holy lands of Mecca and Jerusalem. He also constructed 3 blocks of classrooms at BOMAC Primary School, Oremeji Agugu, Ibadan, in 2012 and built as well as equip the media and agro-allied complex in his hometown, Ajia, in memory of his late father, Pa Olatunbosun Makinde in October, 2012. He engages in distribution of teaching and writing materials to the pupils of primary and secondary schools in the state, construction of a science laboratory for Pen Junior School, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Gas-blending plant under construction in Ibadan, which will provide employment opportunities for hundreds of people in the state and installation of street light at Bayo Oyeleke Street, Ikolaba, Ibadan with a 10 KVA generating set. Recognition: To whom much is given, much is expected. Society, which Makinde has used his sweat to bless has been appreciative and following his good gestures and in appreciation of his kind, a number of awards and honours have gone his way. These include: Laudable Contribution to Humanity Merit Award by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Council; Merit Award by National Association of Oke-Ogun Students (Ibadan); Old Students Merit Award in Appreciation of the Commitment, Dedication and Service to the Association and Humanity by Fiditi Grammar School; Entrepreneurial Excellence Award by Junior Chamber International (JCI) University of Calabar Chapter; Gold Merit Award for Immense and Invaluable Contributions to Sports Development by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter; Philanthropic Gestures and Contributions to Social Care Delivery Services by Nigerian Association of Social Workers, Merit Awards (Oyo State Chapter); Academic Development Merit Award by Maryhill Convent School, Ibadan; Contribution to the Progress and People of Ibadan by Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU) and Contributions to the Renovation of Bishop Philip's Academy, Ibadan, a Bishop Philip's Academy Old Students Award. Association: As a thorough bred professional, Engr. Makinde belongs to many professional associations such as Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for Regulations of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Oil and Gas Design Engineers of Nigeria (OGDEN), Instrument Society of America (ISA), Institute of Measurement and Control, the United Kingdom and America Measurement Institute (AMI) Sub-Committee on Measurement Quality. Why Politics? As a successful business man, Makinde has this to say about his involvement in politics, which he described as an avenue to serve a larger community of humanity. He said, "I'm looking for a new and challenging call to publicly serve and give back to the society that shaped me, one that will allow me to make the best use of my existing skills and wealth of experience in managing people and executing projects that would be to the best of the people". Copyright Daily Independent. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |