Seyi Makinde is a Nigerian engineer, businessman and politician who has served as Governor of Oyo State since 29 May 2019. Born in Ibadan on 25 December 1967, he trained as an electrical engineer, built an oil and gas services company, and entered politics after several unsuccessful campaigns. He won the governorship in 2019, was re-elected in 2023, and has been reported to be running for President in 2027. This neutral biography sets out the verifiable facts and notes where sources differ.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 December 1967, Ibadan |
| Education | Electrical engineering, University of Lagos (entered 1985) |
| Business | Founder, Makon Engineering and Technical Services (1997); Makon Group |
| Office | Governor of Oyo State since 29 May 2019 |
| Elections | Won in 2019; re-elected in 2023 |
Early life and family
Makinde was born in Ibadan, then in the Western State, now Oyo State. According to Wikipedia, his father, Olatubosun Makinde, was a teacher who became an accountant, and his mother is Abigail Makinde. He is described as the third child. He is married to Tamunominini Makinde, and the couple have three children. We do not name the children here.
Education
He attended primary schools in Ibadan and Bishop Phillips Academy in Monatan, Ibadan, before entering the University of Lagos in 1985 to study electrical engineering. His later short courses reportedly include safety systems training in Houston, business analytics at Lagos Business School and a problem-solving course at MIT.
Business career
- He worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company during and after his national youth service.
- He worked at Rebold International Limited from 1992 to 1997, rising to field manager.
- In 1997 he founded Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited, and he is group managing director of Makon Group, an indigenous oil and gas company.
Available biographies are not fully consistent about his work history between 1992 and 1997, so treat that period with care.
Political career
- 2007: ran for the Oyo South Senate seat on the ANPP platform and lost.
- 2014 to 2015: was denied the PDP governorship ticket, moved to the SDP and finished third in the 2015 governorship election.
- 2017: returned to the PDP, and won its governorship primary in September 2018.
- 9 March 2019: won the Oyo governorship election and was sworn in on 29 May 2019, succeeding Abiola Ajimobi.
- 2023: won a second term, with INEC declaring him winner in March 2023.
The 2027 presidential bid
In 2026 Makinde declared a bid for the presidency in the 2027 election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, a move reported against the background of a crisis in the PDP, according to ICIR. Supporters describe him as a consensus opposition candidate, while critics and rivals contest that claim. We present the position as reported and do not endorse any candidate. Check the Independent National Electoral Commission for the current list of candidates.
Makinde and Yoruba traditional institutions
As governor, Makinde presented the staff of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo in January 2025, a decision that drew objections from some kingmakers. Read the details in our explainer on the Alaafin of Oyo, and learn about the state’s capital in Ibadan: History of the Great Yoruba City.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Seyi Makinde?
He was born on 25 December 1967, so he is 58 as of October 2026.
What does he do outside politics?
He is an electrical engineer and the group managing director of Makon Group, an oil and gas services business.
Which terms has he served?
Two terms as Governor of Oyo State, from 2019, with a second term won in 2023.
