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Ade Olufeko | |
|---|---|
 Olufeko inQueens, 2008 | |
| Born | 1980 (age 44–45) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Other names | Adéolu |
| Alma mater | St. Gregory's College |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Humanities and innovation, Founding ofVisual Collaborative Founder orWCBFFWC |
| Notable work | North Star (2019) Remember To Rise (2018) Iyasile Naa (2017) |
Ade Abayomi Olufeko (born 1980) is a Nigerian-American technologist and designer known for his early adoption of emerging tools and practices, particularly in developing regions. He is the founder ofVisual Collaborative, an international platform collaborating with diverse experts on socio-economic issues, innovation, and the humanities.[1]
In 2017, Olufeko contributed to the rediscovery and documentation ofSungbo's Eredo, an extensive system of historical earthworks in West Africa. In 2024, he established theWing Chun Foundation Lagos, an initiative based in Lagos, Nigeria, that applies martial arts principles to leadership and cognitive development.[2][3]
Ade Olufeko[a] was born inMinneapolis, Minnesota, and spent his formative years in Lagos, Nigeria, living inSurulere during the country’sSecond Republic. He attended Unilag Staff School for primary education andSt. Gregory's College in Obalende for secondary school.[4]
In the mid-1990s, he returned to Minneapolis, where he studied atCamden and delivered guest lectures to his International Baccalaureate peers on cultural perspectives in English literature. He later lived inStevens Square, aNational Historic District, before enrolling at Metropolitan State University inSaint Paul. There, he studied computer science with a focus on multimedia technologies, as part of a broader journey that laid the foundation for his interdisciplinary work in technology and culture.[5][6][7]
Olufeko began his career in 1997 with a law internship atHinshaw & Culbertson, where he assisted in digital integration for legal archiving. During thedot-com era, he transitioned into technology, working in interactive design, internet technologies, and hardware at companies such asAmeritech, Imation, andIBM.[5]
While living in Minneapolis, he collaborated with musicians in New York City, includingAmel Larrieux, using web design and digital strategies to expand their audience reach. He later relocated to New York City, joining Warner Music Group, where he contributed to its digital properties.[8]
Between 2004 and 2007, Olufeko worked in quality assurance atShavlik Technologies and Adobe Systems, focusing on software testing and product stability. In 2007, he founded Visual Collaborative, a platform that showcased over 150 artists over a decade.[9] He returned to IBM in 2016 as a management consultant, working on technology-driven initiatives.[10]
After relocating to Lagos, Nigeria, Olufeko focused on initiatives in the creative and technology sectors. Prior to settling in Lagos, he had undertaken consulting projects in Lagos and Abuja. He later served as a management consultant forThe Avenue Projects.[5]
From 2021 to 2023, he served as the first chairman of the Creative and Entertainment Group within the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), where he advocated for policies supporting SMEs and creative enterprises, particularly in intellectual property.[11] Olufeko emerged as an early advocate for decentralized technologies in Africa's creative economy, emphasizing their potential for intellectual property preservation and artist empowerment ahead of mainstreamblockchain adoption.[12]
Olufeko has been active in technology, creative sector initiatives, and public discourse. He has delivered talks at institutions such as theUniversity of Oxford, Yale University, andHarvard Business School, contributing to discussions on innovation, digital transformation, and Africa’s economy.[13]
He has served as a special guest moderator atLondon Business School and Columbia University, facilitating discussions on technology, creativity, and global economic trends. Additionally, he has spoken at Ivy League and leading institutions, including Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Lagos Business School, sharing insights on interdisciplinary approaches to innovation and development.[14]
Olufeko’s engagement in the humanities spans multiple disciplines, including art, philosophy, and literature, with a focus on cultural preservation and interdisciplinary dialogue.[2]
Self-taught as adigital painter and in mixed-media artistry, Olufeko's creative process as anavocation evolved over a decade. His exhibited work exploresAfricanfuturism, experimentalChaos theory and Counterculture.[15]
In 2021, he introduced awax print version of the indigenous Ayo mancala inAnkara fabric, initially producing 200 units for the consumer market. Following positive reception in local media, he expanded the product line withKente andAdire versions, gaining traction across West Africa and its diaspora.[16] According to audited data, sales of locally made units exceeded 5,000.[17] During a period ofcapital flight in Nigeria and a fire outbreak in one of the largest woodcraft communities, part of these proceeds supported artisans and their families.[18][19]
His artworkRemember To Rise, a collaboration withLondon Business School, andIyasile Naa, a project withOxford University, reflect his integration of technology and cultural narratives into visual storytelling.[20][21] In 2017, Ade Olufeko led a multidisciplinary project documenting Nigeria'sSungbo's Eredo earthworks. The team employed blockchain technology for metadata preservation alongside geospatial mapping and local oral history collection.[22]
Olufeko established the Wing Chun Foundation Lagos, contributing to the study and practice of traditional martial arts in West Africa. His approach emphasizes the philosophical principles of movement, discipline, and mindfulness, aligning with broader cultural and historical frameworks.[23]
As part of theNorth Star Electronic Catalogue forVisual Collaborative, Olufeko authoredVoyager (Vol. 2),[24]Vivencias (Vol. 3),[25] andSupernova (Vol. 4) in 2019,[26] followed byTwentyEightyFour (Vol. 5) in 2020.[27] During the same period, he wroteThe Enterprising Young African: Avoiding Pitfalls in Technology and Business (2019), which examines challenges in Africa’s evolving digital and business landscape.
In 2020, Olufeko engaged in a dialogue withRobert Greene, author ofThe 48 Laws of Power, discussing themes of power, human nature, and strategic thinking in the digital age. Excerpts from their conversation, published inThisDayLive, explored how historical insights shape modern leadership and adaptability. His contributions reflected a multidisciplinary perspective, drawing from technology, design, and culture to examine influence and decision-making in an interconnected world.[28]
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