When stories of successful women in architecture are shared in Africa, there is no doubt that Olajumoke Adenowo will be considered an important figure. A woman of substance who has thrived on her passion for design, Olajumoke has made a name for herself in the African society.
She was born in the city of Ibadan, South-West Nigeria in 1968. Guided by her mother, Professor Olufunmilayo Oloruntimilehin, an expert in the field of criminology, she built her passion and abilities in a onetime “Male-dominated” profession, irrespective of the prevalent socio-cultural norms and values at the time.
Being privileged to visit Europe with her parents during her younger years, she was intrigued by what she saw at the historical sites in Europe which left a mark in her heart. She made a decision to build a career in design.
Olajumoke had her secondary school education at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Oyo, and proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) – Nigeria, for her Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture.
She was fourteen when she began her undergraduate course at OAU and at nineteen; she earned her Bachelor of Science in architecture, she also obtained an M.Sc from her Alma Mater OAU.
She is an alumnus of the Yale School of Management, Lagos Business School Chief Executive Programme and the IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain.
Her career in architecture began shortly after she obtained her M.Sc., working as an associate architect at Towry Coker Associates, before long she moved to Femi Majekodunmi Associates as a full-time architect. While working at Femi Majekodunmi Associates she leverages on the platform, to develop herself, known for her enthusiasm and attitude of readiness for the job. She devoted time and energy to building the firm’s status and promoting the Nigerian culture through uniqueness voiced from her work.
Olajumoke’s passion for her job was an aura that was noticeable and glaring to the eyes of all which led her to greater achievements in life. At the age of 23, she was given the opportunity to design her first building and in the same year many other opportunities opened up for her.
She was tagged the “face of architecture in the Nigeria” and is also the brain behind the designing of the iconic structure of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja which catapulted her career to its peak. Having achieved quite much in her career, she decided to spread her tentacles into the entrepreneurship world. She had worked with other firms and was faithful in another man’s business but she considered having her own firm.
After much consideration, Olajumoke moved to establish her own firm – AD Consulting in 1994. AD Consulting is an interior design and architecture firm whose projects covers both private and public facilities design.
AD Consulting has handled the designing and constructing of over 70 outstanding projects including governments, private and multinational companies such as L’Oréal International, Guaranty Trust Bank in West Africa, and Coco-Cola International. Olajumoke also ran an oil and gas firm, Advantage Energy, and a property management firm.
She is also the founder of Awesome Treasures Foundation, which she established with the aim of meeting the demands of national development via raising transformational leaders who would spur inventions and innovations in all areas of life.
The establishment of Awesome Treasures Foundation attracted a name to her which is the first female pioneer of interdenominational, denominationally independent Christian Ministry in Africa.
Olajumoke is not just a model but a trailblazer to the African women society. Following her track record of achievements in a patriarchal continent like Africa, she has been recognized with various awards including the International Alliance for Women World of Difference 100 Award, the Rare Gems 2007 Award, which is awarded by the Women’s Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF).
Olajumoke is happily married to Olukorede Adenowo and they are blessed with two sons.
