Hadj Alade Odunewu as a professional was one of the earliest Nigerians to receive formal training in Journalism as he secured a government scholarship to study Journalism at Regent Polytechnic (now University of Westminster), where he won the New Statesman prize for Best-all-round-student. He joined the Daily Times in 1950 as a reporter. He later moved to the Tribune as editor/managing editor, 1956-57; Daily Service as editor, 1959-60; Allied Newspapers as editor-in-chief, 1960-64, editor, Sunday Times editor in 1964, before serving as the Daily Times editor, 1964-68 and editor-in-chief, 1968-69.  He later served as CEO of the publications division. He was also Commissioner of Information, Tourism and Culture in Lagos state, Public Complaints Commissioner and Electoral Commissioner at the national level.  A respected columnist, he compiled his columns in two volumes, Winner takes all (1963) and Winners take all (2004).

He sponsored the Informed Commentary category of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (D.A.M.E.) in his lifetime.