In the corridors of Canadian public administration, few figures embody excellence, resilience, and leadership like Professor Akolisa Udofike. This legend was born in Maiduguri to parents from Anambra State (Colonel Leonard and Ebele Ufodike). He has risen from the disciplined grounds of the Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna where he studied Physics to become a pioneering academic, public servant, and policy strategist whose influence spans boardrooms, classrooms, and cabinet rooms.

Now a dual-appointed Associate Professor at York University, Ufodike teaches across both the School of Administrative Studies and the School of Public Policy and Administration. His academic presence extends into York’s graduate program in Public Policy, Administration, and Law, where he leads the charge on public sector finance, grooming the next generation of policymakers and fiscal stewards.

His achievement does not stop at academia. Prof Akolisa Ufodike holds an MBA from Cornell University, a PhD from Haskayne School of Business, and an alphabet soup of top-tier certifications: FCPA (Canada), CPA (U.S.), FCCA (UK), a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Certified Director (ICD.D) through the Institute of Corporate Directors that speaks to both the breadth and depth of his financial and governance expertise. Before embracing academia, he clocked over 25 years as a finance executive, leading strategy and transformation in sectors as diverse as telecommunications, oil and gas, banking, and consumer goods. His role at Bell Canada and Molson Coors, and a co-founder and CFO of Jaguar Wireless shows his knack for succeeding in complex corporate terrain.

In 2022, Prof. Akolisa Ufodike etched his name into Canadian history as the first Nigerian-Canadian appointed as a Deputy Minister in the history of Alberta tasked with helming the Ministries of Trade and later Immigration and Multiculturalism, he brought inclusive, evidence-based governance to the forefront which is advancing bold, actionable policies to spur economic growth and embed diversity and inclusion at the heart of Alberta’s development agenda.

A trailblazer in both private and public sectors, Ufodike is also the founder of John Ware Institute—an organization responsible for placing more Black Canadians on paid boards than any other in the country. His dedication to representation is not performative; it is structural, strategic, and data-driven. His public service resume is equally distinguished: roles on the Provincial Audit Committee for Alberta, the Board of the Canada-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, and the Senate of the University of Calgary, and Scouts Canada’s Chinook Council, among others.

Whether sitting on the Audit Committee of TSX-listed Loyalist Group or reviewing research for journals like the Journal of Business Ethics and Accounting Perspectives, Ufodike’s ethos remains clear: accountability must be both measurable and moral. His research interests include accountability, actor networks, common pool resources, public sector finance, and public-private partnerships. His research has been presented at prominent conferences such as the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA), the American Accounting Association (AAA), and the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA), where he has also served as a reviewer.

In 2025, Prof Akolisa Ufodike joined the C. D. Howe Institute, one of Canada’s most respected think tanks. As a member of its Human Capital Policy Council, he continues to shape national discourse, leveraging policy to raise living standards and champion inclusive growth. In recognition of his public service and scholarly contributions, he has received several prestigious honors, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) Established Leader Award, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. This reflects both his personal merit and national gratitude to his accomplishments in Canada.

Prof Akolisa Udofike is shaping public policy today and reshaping what leadership looks like. His objectives are anchored in equity, powered by intellect, and driven by service. In an era where systems are being questioned and institutions redefined, he stands not as a symbol but as a solution: a blueprint for transformational impact in a world that needs more of both.

More about the trailblazer, Prof Akolisa Udofike here