Olajumoke Adenowo | |
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| Born | October 16, 1968 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria |
| Education | BSc Hons Architecture [1988], Masters in Architecture [1991] at Obafemi Awolowo University, Chief Executive Programme [CEP] Lagos Business School [2002] |
| Occupation(s) | Chartered Architect - Principal Architect AD Consulting Chartered Arbitrator Founder, Awesome Treasures Foundation Author, Radio Host / Podcaster Speaker |
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Olajumoke Olufunmilola Adenowo (born 16 October, 1968) is an African architect. She started her own architecture and interior design firm, AD Consulting, in 1994.
Adenowo was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Her parents were both professors: one taught history and the other criminology.[1][2] She lived in the Obafemi Awolowo University campus, between 1962 and 1972.
Living on the campus and trips to Paris and the Palais de Versailles as a young child impressed Adenowo, influencing her decision to study architecture.[3] At 14, she enrolled in Obafemi Awolowo University. She graduated at 19, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with Honours. She won the prize for Best Student Design as an undergraduate.[4] She continued graduate studies there, earning a Masters Degree in Architecture with distinction in 1991.[5][6]
Adenowo studied at the Lagos Business School's Chief Executive Programme (2002), the IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain (2005). She also graduated from the Yale School of Management (2016) and the Harvard Kennedy School (2019).
Adenowo’s design philosophy, "NeoHeritage Architecture", leverages on her experiential understanding of heritage design to define contemporary African Architecture of global relevance.
After graduating from university, Adenowo was hired as an Assistant Architect at Towry Coker Associates. She then practiced as an architect in Lagos at Femi Majekodunmi Associates. She worked on the Federal Ministry of Finance project in Abuja at the age of 23.[7]
In 1994, at 25, Adenowo founded her boutique architecture and interior design firm, AD Consulting. Since its inception, AD Consulting has been involved in designing and constructing more than 114 projects. These include Institutional buildings, Office Building Complexes, Mixed Use developments, auditoria, private residences, healthcare facilities, industrial campuses and Master plans. AD's clients span national and multi-national clients, including Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, Access Bank plc and Guaranty Trust Bank.
CNN described her as "Africa's Starchitect" and The Guardian (Nigeria) has described her as "the face of Architecture in Nigeria".[5] In 2018, she was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as one of the inspirational women in architecture today.[8]
In 2019, Olajumoke Adenowo was appointed as a Visiting Professor at the Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM) in Germany. She was honoured as a Laureate and Guest Scientist at the Chair of Theory, History of Architecture and Art & Design arms of the university's Department of Architecture. This programme was established in collaboration with the Bavarian Ministry of Education.
Her Monograph “Neo Heritage; Defining Contemporary African Architecture “ is the first work by a black Architect to be published by Rizzoli, the leading Art, Architecture and Design Publisher.
In parallel to founding AD Consulting, Adenowo also founded and ran Advantage Energy, an oil and gas services firm.[9]
Recognized as a thought leader on Architecture, the Arts, leadership, Youth and Women’s Empowerment, she regularly speaks at international summits and conferences.[12] She has spoken at the McKenzie Executive leadership platform, Harvard Business School (African Business Club). SOLVE at MIT,[17], Haust Der Kunst (Munich), the Institute of Directors, the Global Women’s Forum, Cambridge University African Society and many other platforms.
Since 2011 she has hosted a syndicated radio show and podcast on leadership; "Voice of Change".[10] She has been featured by international media outlets such as CNN[11] and Fortune.[12]
Adenowo founded the Awesome Treasures Foundation (ATF) In 1999, a faith-based Non-Governmental Organization, recognized by the United Nations and the United States Congress.[16] Awesome Treasures Foundation operates on six continents through its volunteers and partners with a mission to raise transformational leaders for peace and advancement.[13] The foundation has a mission to raise 1,000 leaders by 2030, working especially women and young people.[13]
She is married to Olukorede Adenowo. They have two sons.[14]
