Weekend Personality: From A local Ibadan Motor Boy to MD/CEO and Ph.D. Holder – Hakeem Wale Akintunde Shares Inspiring Secret of Success
Prologue: Weekend Personality
Welcome to the pioneer edition of Weekend Personality — its going to be an exclusive in-depth conversation with individuals who have carved a distinct niche for themselves in the vast world of opportunities.
Each week promises to bring you stories designed to inspire strength, ignite power, offer encouragement, and foster influence. Our mission is simple: to help young adults, adults, leaders, and followers alike sharpen their vision, brighten their horizons, and embrace impactful lifestyles.
This weekend, we shine the spotlight on a man whose cutting-edge success was shaped by rough-edged beginnings. On the hot seat is none other than Dr. Hakeem Adewale Akintunde, a trailblazer and the MD/CEO of several blue-chip companies. His journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and unstoppable determination.
Get ready to be inspired!
EXCLUSIVE: From A local Ibadan Motor Boy to MD/CEO and Ph.D. Holder – Hakeem Wale Akintunde Shares Inspiring Success Story
For those standing at the edge of giving up, overwhelmed by life’s many blows, the story of Dr. Hakeem Wale Akintunde offers more than just hope—it is living proof that resilience, hard work, and faith can turn even the bleakest beginnings into tales of triumph.
Born in the 1960s into a modest household in Opo-Yeosa, Ibadan, Hakeem was the son of Baba Suarau Akanji Akintunde, a timber merchant , and Mama Safurat Abeke Akintunde, an ‘Amala’ seller at Lakanlu, Abebi —parents who gave their all just to ensure the family had meals on the table. It didn’t take young Hakeem long to understand that his journey to greatness would be his own to chart. Depending solely on his parents, he realized, might only prolong the dream.
From an early age, Hakeem threw himself into survival mode. As a young boy attending I.M.G. School IV in Oniyanrin, he was already hustling in ways many adults would find daunting. From butchering meat at the Bashorun and Moniya abattoirs, hawking raw meat in neighborhoods like Idi-Ape and Iwo Road, washing vehicles at a Mobil station, Oniyanrin, and even working as a bus conductor—he did it all before turning 13.
“I usually started my day at 4 a.m., accompanying the lead butcher to the abattoir,” Hakeem recounted in an exclusive interview with Inform Daily. “After collecting our meat, I would hawk it around before school, and by 5 p.m., I would be back on the road, joining the lead butcher herding the purchased livestock from Bodija market to Bashorun abattoir through Kongi area, a trekking distance of about 4 to 6 hours in preparation for the next day.”
This rigorous lifestyle, however, took a toll. Skipping classes became a routine, and he eventually had to repeat Primary Four. Things got even more complicated when FRSC officials (then mockingly called Maja-maja) began to harass him for being too young to be a bus conductor. He stopped being a bus conductor prior to his NYSC program in 1993. Yet despite the hurdles, his efficiency made him a favorite among drivers—many vied for his service.
Eventually, things came to a head. Teachers began recognizing him as bus conductor, classmates mocked him with the nickname ‘omo kondo’, and the shame became too much. But fate took another turn after a domestic altercation led to a stabbing incident. Fearing his father’s wrath, Hakeem fled to Vom in Plateau State, where his sister welcomed him with open arms.
A New Beginning
In Vom, Hakeem got a fresh start. He gained admission into St. Joseph’s College, where he was placed in Form 2 rather than Form 4. His honesty and determination quickly earned him the trust of the local community. Soon, he secured admission into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he studied Accounting.
Even in university, Hakeem maintained his hustle, working part-time with Moses Ogidigo & Co., Zaria and later with Chris Ekeigwe & Co., Lagos where he expanded his expertise in auditing and training. From there, he ventured into business—selling scrapped items and later cars in Lagos’s Agidingbi and Allen Avenue before venturing into Quick Service Restaurants as a franchisee under UACN. The road was long and winding, but he never veered off.
Corporate Climb and Entrepreneurial Leap
After completing his National Youth Service in Enugu, Hakeem impressed his employers so much that he was offered full-time employment. But his passion for further education and professional growth led him to resign.
In 1995, he joined Health-Aid Ltd as an Accounts Officer and rose swiftly to become Assistant General Manager of a subsidiary, Duro Soleye Hospitals by 2000. From DSH, he moved to CentrespreadFCB in 2004, first as Head of Finance and later as Chief Operating Officer, where he helped reposition the company.
In 2017, Hakeem founded Marcom Support ServicesLtd, an integrated marketing and consulting firm. Today, he leads not just Marcom, but also Entourage Nigeria Ltd and El-Shaddai Resources Ltd, with interests spanning multiple sectors.
Academic Brilliance
Despite the hardships, Hakeem never neglected his academic dreams. He holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from ABU Zaria, an MBA in Banking and Finance from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and in 2025, he capped it all with a Ph.D. in Accounting from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
He also holds a certificate in International Marketing and Law of International Trade and is a fellow of several prestigious bodies including ICAN, ARCON and CIAN, with membership of NIM, CIPM, and CIM (UK). A UN-trained Cisco Certified Network Associate, his diverse skills cut across finance, IT, HR, and brand management.
Legacy and Advice to Youths
Hakeem’s professional footprints are visible in the transformation of brands such as UACR (Mr Bigg’s), Fountain Hotels, DKK, Redline and Pure Activations. He has also held influential positions, including Honorary Treasurer of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria.
To the youth of Nigeria, Hakeem shares this:
“I didn’t achieve all I did by my own might. I trusted God and maintained an unquenchable thirst for success. I faced my fair share of difficulties, but I never lost faith. Young people must stop comparing themselves to others—your time will come if you stay focused, humble, and hardworking.”
Parting Words …
From selling raw meat in the streets of Ibadan to holding a Ph.D. and leading multiple businesses, Hakeem Wale Akintunde’s story is a beacon of hope for every struggling dreamer. It’s a reminder that life does not hand out success—but those who refuse to quit will eventually find their crown.
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