Fadekemi Ajakaiye

The Sahara Centre (TSC), a not-for-profit working to amplify the role of the creative industries as change agents to build a better Nigerian society, has appointed five new board members, including three renowned Architects Adeyemo Shokunbi and Olayinka Dosekun-Adjei; and Demilade Ademuson, a product manager at Netflix’s Creative Labs. For The Sahara Centre, this is in line with the renewal of its advisory board as part of its dedication to dynamic governance.

Dr Adun Okupe, Executive Director at The Sahara Centre, said, “Building on our track record of generating long-term solutions and constructive change within Nigeria’s creative industries, our newly appointed board members will significantly influence our initiatives and plans over the next two years. They are incredible experts and we are privileged to have them on board.”

Adeyemo Shokunbi is a trained architect and co-creative director of the Patrickwaheed Design Consultancy (PWDC). Adeyemo brings over three decades of architectural expertise and a passion for innovation that resonate deeply with the TSC’s mission to empower Nigeria’s creative industries.

Demilade Ademuson brings his profound insights into the dynamics and trends of the creative sector from his experience as a product manager at Creative Labs at Netflix.

Olayinka Dosekun-Adjei is the director of Studio Contra’s creative department and a multidisciplinary architect, her skills are suited to TSC’s aim to support young artists and promote transformational change in Nigeria’s creative industries. Olayinka was recently announced as one of judges for Dezeen Awards 2023, a prestigious accolade for architects and designers across the world.

The other new board members, Wale Lawal and Oluseye Olusoga are also prominent experts in the industry. Wale Lawal is the editor and founder of the Republic and former Senior Researcher at Harvard Business School. Wale’s commitment to systemic change and group problem-solving is perfectly in line with TSC’s goals.

Oluseye Olusoga brings his vast industry experience as CEO of Parthian Partners.  His strong financial acumen is crucial for TSC’s mission to support the positioning of the creative industries for investment opportunities; as well as creating innovation and sustainable solutions.

The Sahara Centre supports Nigeria’s creative industries with research, advocacy and capacity development initiatives with the aim to drive societal change. TSC led the Lagos Island Project looking at a community’s perspective on the role of creative industries in building better communities, in addition to other projects that look at the contributions of the creative industries to the labour market, the economy and how to develop catalytic sectors in the industries.