Wale Oyemakinde was born at Awaye in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State in 1938 on the 22nd of December, to the family of Chief Solomon and Mrs. Marian Oyemakinde.

He lived the early years of his life at Ile Ojo Badan at Oje and later with his paternal uncle, Mr. Jonathan Fatola Oyemakinde at 88 Olonode Street, Yaba, Lagos. He began his primary education at Awaye Baptist School in 1948 and ended it at St. Paul`s Anglican Senior Primary School, Yemetu, Ibadan in Standard VI in 1954.

He continued the next three years of his education at Seventh Day Adventist Secondary Modern School, Erunmu after which he proceeded to the prestigious Baptist College, Iwo, now known as Bowen University. It was at the Baptist College that he received his first formal training for teaching from 1958 to 1961. It was also there he met with Dr. O. W. Taylor, his history teacher, who became his mentor. Dr. Taylor was an American Baptist Missionary who had lectured in America as an Assistant Professor after obtaining his PhD degree in History from Duke University in 1958 for his thesis titled Slavery in Arkansas.

When Wale gained admission to the University of Ibadan for his undergraduate programme, it was clear that he would specialize in History.  He had been convinced by Dr. O. W. Taylor that History & International Relations was the only subject worthy of mention.

Dr Taylor energetically founded the International Relations Club at the Baptist College, Iwo as Faculty Adviser and organized the students as student members with Wale Oyemakinde as President and his classmate and friend, Bunmi Ayoade (now Emeritus Professor) as Secretary. The activities of that club were a delight to watch at the Baptist College, Iwo in those days.

After graduating from the Baptist College, Iwo, the young Wale was posted to teach at Baptist High School, Saki by the School Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. He remained there till he entered the University of Ibadan in September 1962 with Matriculation Number 160.

Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo agreed to sponsor him on the kind recommendation of the principal of that school, Rev, J. B. P. Lafinhan. However, this did not eventually happen, as the school was immediately relieved of the burden when Wale Oyemakinde won the scholarship of the Government under Regulation 18.

Wale Oyemakinde enjoyed the grace of God throughout his undergraduate years and beyond at the University of Ibadan. He came out with BA 2nd Class Honours Upper Division in History in June 1965 and later won the Irving and Bonnar Graduate Prize in History in 1967.

The Almighty God arranged circumstances so that by June 11, 1965, when Wale Oyemakinde arrived at Oyo to teach at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo he was well qualified.  However, in pursuit of further knowledge, he returned to the University of Ibadan in January 1966 for his   PhD research. His post-graduate research work at the University of Ibadan, which had earned him the PhD degree on October 23, 1970, was supervised by the legendary Professor R. J. Garvin. The PhD thesis was titled “A History of Indigenous Labour on the Nigerian Railway 1895 -1945”.

On the 1st of September 1968, he joined the University of Lagos as Lecturer II in Economic History.

In the course of his career, Wale had taken up the Ford Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in African Economic History at the University of Wisconsin, USA in 1972/73. He also obtained the MSc degree in Agricultural Economics of the University of Wisconsin in 1973.

He relocated to the University of Ibadan on 1st September 1975 as Senior Lecturer in Economic History. He rose through the academic ladder, and was appointed a Professor of Economic History, by the University on 1st October 1985.

In over forty –seven years of university teaching, the first six as Lecturer, the next six as Senior Lecturer, the next five as Reader, and the last thirty as Professor, he handled various courses in Quantitative Methods, Economic Development, Economic History of Africa, International Relations, International Law, Political Ideas, History of Industrial Societies, Nigerian History and African History at both Undergraduate and Post-graduate levels. 
His recent contributions to academic knowledge include the following:

Oyemakinde, W (2000) Strategies for Revamping the Nigerian Economy, Second Edition, Enlarged 100pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2001) An Introduction to Church Missionary Society Manuscripts, College Press, Ibadan 154pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2003) Essays in Economic History, Ibadan 167pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2005a) Essays in Economic History, Second Edition, Enlarged, 328 pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2009a) Towards Policy Prescription, Ibadan 108pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2009b) Global Economic Meltdown, Ibadan 95pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2011) A Turning Point Where and When History Itself Turns, Ibadan.

Oyemakinde, W (2010) Transformation, Ibadan 86pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2012b) Zero Tolerance for Unemployment, Ibadan, 100pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2013a) Prosperity, Ibadan 115pp.

Oyemakinde, W (2014) Growing Global Economy Through Arbitration, Ibadan.

Professor Wale Oyemakinde has published far and wide covering the fields of Economic History, International Relations, and Political Economy.

In addition to his contributions to academics, he also made immense contributions to politics and governance in Ibadan, Oyo state, and the country as a whole. The many conversations we had with him, the stories others tell us about him and what we saw him do in politics and governance show that he was committed to building a country in which the interest of all Nigerians would be well taken care of. This he demonstrated in the public offices he held, including the following:

Member, Oyo State Local Government Reform Commission, 1979-1980

Member, Oyo State Higher Education Development Fund Committee, 1990

Chairman, Board of Directors, Sketch Press Limited, 1980-1981

Director, Sketch Press Limited, January 1982 to November 1983

Chairman, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State 1992-1993

Chairman, Water Corporation of Oyo State 2011-2013

Abimbola Johnson became his wife at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Ebute Meta on 29th November 1969. The marriage was blessed with four children. Over the years, God established and increased his family on every side, and we are grateful to God. His children are Prince and Princess Adegbenro and Olajumoke Onibokun, Dr Babajide Oyemakinde, Dr and Dr Oluseyi and Bolajoko Ajuwon, Engr. Godreigns Amedari and (Jadesola Amedari). The next generation are Gbenga Onibokun, Mayowa Onibokun, Oluwadamilare Onibokun, Oluwasemilore Ajuwon, Anuoluwapo Onibokun, Oluwafifehansimi Ajuwon, Oluwatise Ajuwon, Godreigns Amedari, Stephanie Amedari, Oluwadabira Ajuwon and Aseoluwa Ajuwon.

Our story is that our dad and granddad was a devoted family man. He is our Hero. Until his death, he continuously taught us about God through his teachings, advice, prayers and lifestyle. He gave us the necessary foundation and building blocks to be relevant and useful for God, ourselves and the world at large.

We have no doubt our daddy knew God, loved him, told others about him, served him and gave to him. Over the years, he worshipped at Orita Mefa Baptist Church, Deeper Life Bible Church and the Full Stature Missions International. Our daddy was a regular attendee of major programmes of The Stone Church, where a number of his children and grandchildren worship.

In his many stories, our daddy told us of how much he appreciates the contributions of many people too numerous to mention. His particular regards go to the following: Grandpa Jonathan Fatola Oyemakinde, Prof. J. F. Ade Ajayi, Prof. Tekena Tamuno, Prof. (Mrs) Bolanle Awe, Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade, Prof. Ayo Banjo, Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, Prof. A. B. Aderibigbe, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Layi Balogun, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Segun Osoba, Apostle I. D. Lawon, Prof. Lekan Oyedeji, Prof. Dan Izevbaye, Prof. Kunle Adeniran, Emeritus Professor Bunmi Ayoade and Dr Femi Adewumi.

We also acknowledge the various roles as mentioned by our dad, of his parents, his siblings, extended family members, his physicians, the entire Johnson family, colleagues at work, political friends and associates, neighbours in various communities, and church members.

Thank you very much, God bless every one