Olajumoke Adenowo, a professional architect who has successfully put her name in the sands of time, turns 50 today.
ALSO READ: 10 Thought Provoking Things Jumoke Adenowo Said On King Woman That Every Woman Needs To know
Here are interesting facts you should know about the New African Woman Businesswoman of the Year, Jumoke Adenowo.
1. Early Life/Educational Background
Olajumoke Adenowo was born on the 16th of October, 1968, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. She gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University at 14.
At 19, she graduated with a B.Sc. with honors in architecture. She returned to the university in 1991 for a master of science in architecture and bagged a distinction.
Adenowo’s parents were both professors of history and criminology. She lived on campus at the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University.
She is an alumnus of the Yale School of Management, the Lagos Business School Chief Executive Programme, and the IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain.
2. Career
After graduating from university, Adenowo was hired as an assistant architect at Towry Coker Associates. She practiced as an architect at Femi Majekodunmi Associates, Lagos. She worked on the Federal Ministry of Finance project in Abuja at 23.
Jumoke Adenowo founded her own boutique architecture and interior design firm, AD Consulting, in 1994 when she was just 26. Since its inception, AD Consulting has been involved in the design and construction of quite a number of projects nationwide, like Nigerian government buildings, private residences, healthcare facilities, industrial campuses, and corporate and financial institutions. The company has been patronized by even the world’s leading brands, like Coca-Cola and L’Oréal.
The architect also ventured into other sectors, like oil and gas firms. She owns a property management firm—Advantage Energy.
Adeowo is also an accomplished author who has written several books, such as Lifespring, The Mysterious Seed, Designed For Marriage, and many more.
She also hosts the syndicated radio show on leadership, ‘Voice of Change.’ She was featured in “Who Will Be Who in the 21st Century” (young achievers section) by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, and “Those Who Inspire Nigeria” in 1991.
Olajumoke Adenowo is also a devout philanthropist. She founded the Awesome Treasures Foundation (ATF) in 1999. The foundation is a faith-based NGO located in Lagos, Nigeria.
3. Personal Life
The successful architect, Jumoke, is married to Olukorede Adenowo. The union produced two sons.
4. Awards
Adenowo has been honored with numerous awards for her architecture and philanthropy. These include:
- The Rare Gems Award, in conjunction with the United Nations Information Centre and the Women’s Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF), was for her work with women’s empowerment.
- The International Alliance for Women World of Difference 100 Award;
- The International Property Awards (Best Public Service Architecture, 2012); African Property Awards (Best Mixed-Use Architecture, Best Office Architecture, and Best Public Service Architecture, 2013); IDEA Awards (Best Commercial Designer 2012 and Best Interior Architect 2013); the Ekiti State Merit Awards, 2014; IDEA Awards (Best Institutional Architect 2014); and the Cambridge African Society Award.
Adenowo received the New African Woman in Business Award and was also nominated for the West African Business Woman of the Year Award at the CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards in 2014. She was recognized as one of Nigeria’s 100 most influential citizens. She was also named as one of 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria, one of Africa’s Most Powerful 10 Women in Business by AFK Insider, and one of Africa’s Most Inspiring Business Women by La Batisseurs Des Économies De L’Afrique.
She is a jury member of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards. She was featured in the Hall of Fame, Black History Month, by the University of the West of England, Bristol. She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, UK.
Adenowo has been featured in the world’s foremost architectural journal, Architectural Records, and has spoken at summits and conferences, including the Global Women’s Forum and Harvard Business School (African Business Club).
