PRINCE HENRY OLUBOWALE AKINYELE
DISTRICT GOVERNOR, 2025-26
Rotary Club of Maryland, Ikeja
Rotarian Prince Henry Akinyele’s journey into Rotary has spanned over thirty years. His sojourn began in the early 1990s as a member of the Rotaract Club of Ikosi, where he served as President from 1996-1997. He was also an active member of the Rotaract Club of University of Ilorin during his university days.
Prince Henry's passion for growth and development of Rotary led him to play a pivotal role as the founding member of Rotary Club of Maryland, Ikeja, in 2001. The first generation Rotary Club in the then District 9110 with other twenty Rotaractors.
Henry's passion for the growth of his Club is indescribable. He remains the only member who has consistently served as a board member for ten consecutive years. He was the President of the Club in 2006-2007.
Henry's debut at the district dates back to 2009-2010 when he served as the Secretary to then New Generation Committee and organised a well-attended Youth summit. He has since served as member, chairman subc-ommittee, vice chair, chairman, and resource person to several district committees.
Few of the positions are : Chair, Ethics Committee, 2010-2011, Chair, West Africa Project Fair Committee, 2012-2013, Assistant Governor, 2013-2014, 2016-2018, Chair, Presidential Citation, 2014-2015, Chair, Rotary Foundation Dinner & Dance, 2017-2018, Membership Lead Coordinator (Pioneer), 2017-2020, Chair, One Million Dollar Challenge, 2019-2020, Vice Chair, Conference Committee, 2019-2020, Member, Polio Concert Committee, 2019-2020, Zonal Coordinator, 2020-2021, Chairman District Governor Installation, 2021-2022, Chairman, Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), 2022-2023, District Governor Nominee Designate 2022-2023, District Governor Nominee 2023-2024.
He is a graduate and faculty member of Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI.) and National Editor of Rotary Leadership Institute Nigeria. He has facilitated many training and learning session across Nigeria.
Prince Henry has attended over 10 Rotary International conventions and undergone Governor Nominee and Governor-Elect learning sessions in Zambia, and Mauritius as well as the International Assembly in Orlando, Florida,USA.
Henry is a Major Donor and a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation. He is an ardent soldier of polio eradication and has contributed over five thousand dollars to the Polio Fund.
He is a recipient of the prestigious Excellence Service Award of the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee for his outstanding contribution and was recently honoured with the Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World for 2024-2025 in recognition of his non-financial contribution to polio eradication.
Professionally, Prince Henry is a successful businessman with interests in printing services, logistics, and hospitality. He is Managing Director and Chief Executive of Chebychev Ventures Limited, a renown printing outfit, Precise Promotions Limited a corporate branding and event management firm and Dino Four Lounge and Hotels.
He is a graduate of Statistics from the University of Ilorin and an alumnus of Fate Foundation School of Entrepreneurship. He is also a Fellow of The Institute of Professional Entrepreneurs and strategic Administrators of Nigeria and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers.
Henry is a direct prince of Ifore, a community in Ondo Kingdom. He is married to Nihinlolawa, a specialist in Special Education Needs, the Proprietress of Bumblebee School, Arepo, Ogun State. She is also a Rotary Foundation Major Donor. They are blessed with two beautiful children. Both are Paul Harris Fellows.