Dr. Akolisa (Ako) Ufodike

Biography

Dr. Akolisa (Ako) Ufodike is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Haskayne School of Business. He is also a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Administrative Studies at York University, where he teaches auditing, and holds an appointment in York’s Graduate Program in Public Policy, Administration, and Law, teaching public sector finance.

His research focuses on accountability, actor networks, common-pool resources, public sector finance, and public-private partnerships. He reviews for several academic journals including the Journal of Business Ethics, Accounting Perspectives, and Sustainability, and presents regularly at leading conferences such as BAFA, AAA, and CAAA.

Before joining academia, Dr. Ufodike spent 25 years as a finance executive across telecommunications, banking, oil and gas, utilities, and consumer packaged goods. He previously served as co-founder and CFO of Jaguar Wireless and later as CFO and COO of CCI Wireless, one of Canada’s largest rural broadband ISPs.

Dr. Ufodike holds a PhD from the Haskayne School of Business and an MBA from Cornell University. He is a Canadian FCPA, U.S. CPA, UK FCCA, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Director (ICD.D). He is the founder of the John Ware Institute, a national organization advancing Black representation on Canadian boards, and has served on public, corporate, and non-profit boards, including Alberta’s Provincial Audit Committee and the University of Calgary Senate.

In 2022, he became the first Black Canadian appointed as a Deputy Minister in Alberta, leading the Ministries of Trade and later Immigration and Multiculturalism. His contributions have been recognized with honours including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, the IPAC Established Leader Award, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.