Stephen Ayodele Makinwa (born 26 July 1983) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Discovered in 2000 by Reggiana while playing for Nigerian local side Ebedei alongside his childhood friend and teammate Obafemi Martins, Makinwa started his Italian football experience moving on loan to Serie D team Conegliano.

Makinwa then went to S.S. Lazio in summer 2006, on a co-ownership deal for €3.3 million, being reunited with Delio Rossi, his former coach at Atalanta.

In 2007–08, Makinwa got his first experience of the UEFA Champions League, failing to score as Lazio crashed out in the group stages.

Following six months of unconvincing performances, Lazio sent him on loan to relegation battlers Reggina,[4] but he still did not find the net, ending the season without a goal to his name.