Profile of Archbishop Adebayo Akinde
Archbishop Adebayo AKINDE is the immediate past Anglican Archbishop of Lagos Province, and pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland. He is also a renowned academic and one of Nigeria's foremost professors of Computer Science & Engineering. His life is distinguished by a unique blend of academia, ministry and public service.
He was born on 25 August 1946 in Kaduna, Nigeria to Charles Adeleke AKINDE, who hailed from Abeokuta, and Adelaide Osu AKINDE (nee Macaulay) of Sierra Leonean descent. His mother passed when he was 10 years old, and that outcome influenced his relocation to Lagos and Abeokuta in 1958, where he attended Abeokuta Grammar School.
He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Electronics & Electrical Engineering from the University of Ife in 1971 and proceeded to gain his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University College, London (UCL) in 1973. Subsequently, he embarked on his Doctorate degree in Computer Science (Hardware) & Artificial Intelligence from the University of Sussex, Brighton, where he completed his PhD in 1978.
He began his academic career at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he built an illustrious career, rising to the rank of professor.
Academia offered a platform through which he tutored many students and published several papers in international and national journals that earned him a reputation as a foremost leader of thought in computer science & engineering. At various times during his career, he served as visiting lecturer and external examiner in some Nigerian Universities, and internationally — Universities in Finland, USA, UK, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana.
He does not just have an impressive academic pedigree but also has a strong professional and industrial reputation, where he was a foundation member of the Computer Association of Nigeria (now Nigeria Computer Society), where he held several roles, rising to become the President of the Computer Association of Nigeria from 1997–1999.
Similarly, he became the first Registrar of the Computer Professional Registered Council of Nigeria (CPN), a government agency, between 1995–1997, where he implemented the foundation upon which the legal and regulatory framework of Nigerian Information Technology practitioners was built.
In recognition of his accomplishments, his views have been widely sought after, earning him roles in international and national institutions such as UNDP, UNESCO, World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Defence.
In spite of his illustrious career in industry, public service and academia, he responded to God's call to ordained ministry in the Anglican Communion, where he served selflessly, progressing by preferment through every position of the Anglican Communion from deacon to Bishop.
In August 2006, he was elected the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, where he laid the administrative, spiritual, physical and developmental foundation of the Diocese.
In January 2013, he was elected as Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos. His 10-year tenure as the Bishop of Lagos Mainland was marked with impact and growth on diverse fronts, including promoting spiritual growth, church expansion, evangelism as well as infrastructural developments.
His devotion to service within the Anglican Communion is evident in his extensive contributions and initiatives made in diverse capacities, spanning education, technology and welfare. The responsibilities thrust upon him earned him a place as the Chairman, Advent Cable Network Nigeria (ACNN), and a Member, Board of Trustees of Ajayi Crowther University, to mention a few.
“Essentially, Archbishop Akinde is a prelate, a patriot and a professional.”
Archbishop Akinde was married to Mrs. Bassey Akinde, a respected pharmacist and academic, until her passing in January 2025. Together they were widely admired for their partnership in church ministry and public service.