Akinola developed a passion to solve his nation’s dwindling electricity supply crisis while studying at the University of Lagos. His empathy for the environment influenced his decision to develop expertise in renewable technologies by studying at the Ecole Polytechnique. 

While in France, he worked on an organic solar cell project where an efficiency of 3.8% was reached using a new small band-gap polymer as the donor material. He conducted his master’s degree research at Air Liquide’s Centre for Research Claude Delorme (CRCD) in the fine chemical surface, synthesis, and science team where he worked on 
doped ZnO:X as a transparent conductive material.

His interest is in synthesis and modeling of new materials that can solve energy problems on 
a large scale. He dedicates time to develop awareness for good, quality 
education in Nigeria and also mentors high-school students.