Nigerian-Born Professor Joins Canada's Leading Think Tank

Dr. Akolisa (Ako) Ufodike, a Nigerian-born Canadian academic and public servant, has been appointed to the Human Capital Policy Council of the C.D. Howe Institute—Canada’s foremost nonpartisan public policy think tank.

Currently serving as Alberta’s Deputy Minister for Immigration and Multiculturalism, Dr. Ufodike brings over 25 years of executive experience across industries including telecommunications, banking, oil and gas, and consumer goods.

He is also an Associate Professor at York University, jointly appointed to the School of Administrative Studies and the School of Public Policy and Administration.

A graduate of Cornell University’s MBA program and the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business (PhD), Dr. Ufodike holds several professional designations: Canadian FCPA, U.S. CPA, UK FCCA, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Director (ICD.D).

In 2022, he made history as Alberta’s first Black Canadian Deputy Minister and has since led the ministries of Trade and Immigration & Multiculturalism. He is the founder of the John Ware Institute, which has placed more Black Canadians on paid boards than any other organization in Canada.

Ufodike’s appointment to the C.D. Howe Institute’s Human Capital Policy Council reflects his commitment to evidence-based policymaking.

“I look forward to contributing to its important work in shaping effective, forward-looking policy,” he shared in a LinkedIn post.

The C.D. Howe Institute is dedicated to raising living standards in Canada by promoting sound public policy through rigorous research and expert insights.