Meet the Team

MAFEST President

Charles is the Founder and Initiator of the Meet Africa Fashion Festival (MAFEST). He has been in the Beauty Pageant Industry for decades and has been innovative in the industry. A Communication and Media expert for almost three decades, he has variously worked at NTA Abuja, Daily Times Nigeria, Vanguard Newspapers, Niger Delta Standard Newspapers, Leadership Newspapers and Folio Communications. The Chairman of Mena Communications Ltd, he was the Editor and later the Managing Director of Niger Standard Newspapers, Port Harcourt from where he joined Leadership Newspapers Abuja as its Executive Director of Business Development. An Alumnus of the University of Abuja, Ozoemena is a Political Science Scholar per excellence, a Resource fellow, an Event planner (Conferences, Seminars, and Workshops), a Reputation Manager, and a Publisher. He consults for Caritas Communications Ltd Lagos and has interfaced on stakeholder management, public policy, and Media monitoring for MasterCard, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Exxon Mobile, Topaz Marine, Team Offshore, Tetra Pak, Sustainable Fuel, Belgium, and now Standard Chartered Bank.

A pioneer entertainment personality in Abuja, he was the Pageant Manager, Miss Abuja Beauty Pageant from 1993 to 1998 before he Founded the Face of Abuja Beauty pageant in 2000. He was the first Pageant Organiser in Nigeria to ban contestants from wearing foreign-made Evening Gowns and, mobilised some Nigerian Fashion Designers in 2001 to design Contestants’ Evening Gowns with Nigerian and African fabrics only. That sets the tone for subsequent local designs of evening gowns in Nigeria. 

He was the first in the world to introduce a cooking competition into the beauty pageant process in 2000 including an education scholarship grant-giving beauty pageant-the Jewel of Nigeria.

MARKETING MEDIA PERSONALITY.

Regional Advert Cordinator South-South, Vanguard Media Limited

Director, Fashion and Production: Ayodeji Moore

 AY, is a seasoned Fashion and event producer with over 24 years of experience. He has produced events in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, London, and Cape Verde, Moore is a member of the Professional Party Organisers and Event Management of Nigeria. He holds a BSC in Geology and an MSc in Business Management.  He is affiliated with the Directors Guild. AY collaborates with designers to develop and showcase their collections. Along with the Show Producer, he oversees backstage operations, including dressing rooms, dressing teams, and show flow.

Alex is a seasoned technology professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the University of Education Winneba, Ghana, and a Master’s degree in Business Management & Technology from Marymount California University, USA.

NIDO AFRICA (Reps)

Lead Team, Africa

 Prof Osakwe is the Continental Chairman, of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, (NIDO) Africa, and a senior researcher in the Faculty of Computing and Informatics at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. 

 

While in Nigeria, he carried out his National Youth Service in Benue State and won an award as the overall best youth corps member in the State. He was offered automatic employment at the Benue State College of Education, Oju, by the Benue State Government where he worked for 17 years and rose through the ranks to the position of a senior lecturer before moving to Namibia. While at Benue State College of Education, Oju, he held several positions such as Coordinator, Computer Unit, Head of Department, Computer Science, Director, Directorate of Information and Communication Technology and Coordinator, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Benue State College of Education, Oju Centre. He was also a member of the College Academic Board and an External Examiner for five universities.

He worked with the Nigeria High Commission in Namibia, where he championed the cause of Nigerians living, schooling, and doing business in Namibia. He established a language school for Nigerian children where they were taught the three major Nigerian Languages free of charge. Professor Osakwe also initiated and started the Nigeria Day celebrations, bringing Nigerians from diverse regions together to celebrate their culture and unity. Professor Osakwe continues to champion the cause of Nigerians living, studying, and doing business in Namibia. He is a true nationalist, dedicated to empowering his fellow Nigerians at home and abroad. In Namibia, he has played a vital role in assisting Nigerians in setting up their businesses, advocating for their rights, and uniting the Nigerian community. He has organized conferences and Webinars on Health, Business, Unity, and Education several times. Osakwe is an advocate of peace and Unity. One of his major dreams is to see a united NIDO Africa

A Researcher and an author, Professor Osakwe has published over 80 articles and conference papers in reputable international journals and conference proceedings. He was also the organizing chairman of the first and second International Conference on Information Technology and Emerging Technologies at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. He is a Knight of St John International, a social activist, and is married with children.

 

MEDIA MARKETING, AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL.

Group Advert Manager, Vanguard Media Ltd

 

Model,Actor, Chef and interior decorator

Handles promotion, publicity, and branding for the fashion show

 Lere is a top-level executive with over three decades of professional work experience in start-ups, growing and mature businesses, and organisations across diversified sectors and industries, including the Media and Integrated Communications, where he has played strategic and key roles at the middle, senior management, and executive levels.

 

Lere has worked in 3 of Nigeria’s leading PR/Reputation Management and Integrated Communications consulting firms, and a United Nations agency. He was Executive Director, Strategic Communications /Content Strategy Lead, Chain Reactions Nigeria; 

Group Head, Media Services, CMC Connect (Perception Managers); Deputy Manager, Media Relations Specialty, C&F Porter Novelli; and Zonal Media Associate, UNFPA.

He has provided communications for a broad portfolio of brands in the financial services, Fintech, Technology, Telecom, e-Commerce, FMCG, Pharmaceutical, Oil & Gas, Aviation, Real Estate, Hospitality, Tourism, Art & Entertainment, Political Communications, public sector organisations, and not-for-profit.  He was a senior Journalist with leading national newspapers, where he served as Senior Reporter, Champion Newspapers Ltd; and Business Correspondent, Concord Newspapers Ltd, with accreditation to key institutions, including the Presidential Villa/State House, Abuja, Lagos State Governor’s Office, and business sector amongst others. 

 

He holds a Masters in Communications Studies and professional membership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and the Association of Church Reputation Managers, amongst others.

The Festival’s Media Manager

 Jemi Ekunkunbor is a distinguished and award-winning journalist with an illustrious career spanning almost three decades during which, she has made an indelible mark in journalism. Within her career, Jemi devoted her journalistic skills to covering important gender issues, advocating for women’s rights, and using her platform to fight for the marginalized and a more inclusive and equitable society.

As Editor of Allure, (the lifestyle pullout in Sunday Vanguard), leads content creation for publication, to stay ahead of the trend, and ensure alignment with industry standards in Nigeria’s fashion landscape.

Jemi has won several awards, including the Best Fashion Writer-City People Fashion and Style Awards 2007, and the Most Outstanding Style Writer- Nigeria Hair Show 2008. Jemi who holds a postgraduate Diploma in Journalism is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ).

She heads the MAFEST Media Team

FRONT OF HOUSE DIRECTOR 

Oversees the guest experience, including seating, hospitality, crowd management, security, and medicals. Gbenga is a fashion designer of excellence. A creative director of A&E Luxury, a luxury clothing line for men, he is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos, Plateau State, and an alumnus of London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London. His experience in the African fashion industry spans over two decades of creative contributions to the local and international fashion industry. Currently, he is in partnership with a fashion international brand to change the narrative of African Fashion. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovation, he has established himself as a master of his craft. His extensive experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of the fashion industry, allowing him to create garments that are aesthetically stunning and functional. Gbenga’s designs often blend traditional techniques with modern twists, resulting in unique and captivating pieces that have graced the runways of top fashion shows and adorned the bodies of stylish individuals. His expertise in textile manipulation, colour theory, and silhouette creation has earned him a reputation as a true artist of fashion. Throughout his illustrious career, Gbenga has dressed numerous high-profile clients, including celebrities, dignitaries, and fashion influencers. His designs have been featured in top fashion publications, solidifying his position as a respected and influential figure in the fashion Industry.

 

MODELA Adebayo Adegbe, often referred to as ‘King of African Haute Couture’ is a science graduate from Lagos State University, is a multi-talented figure in the Fashion and Modelling industry. 

 

He is a model, modeling instructor, model scout, agent, makeup artist, choreographer, producer, renowned fashion designer, Paris-trained catwalk, and poise coach.

 

Despite his scientific background, Adegbe’s creative side flourished, leading him to create award-winning costumes for beauty contestants, queens, films, red carpets, musical videos, stage drama, theatre, carnivals, and runways. Although his initial goal was to become a medical doctor, his true passions lie in modeling and fashion. Over the years, he has designed costumes for various prestigious events, including MBGN Ambassador to Miss World, the Face of Abuja Beauty Pageant, Miss Universe, Miss Tourism World/International, Model of the World, Little Miss World, Top Model of the World, Miss Grand International, and Mr. Nigeria competitions.

 

Adegbe’s educational journey includes studying fashion at the Nobel Training Institute from 1994 to 1995, obtaining a modeling/model management diploma from Fawaz Training Institute, and earning certificates in stage makeup, costume designing, and wardrobe from ITPAN Training Institute, Gbagada, Lagos.

 

In 2001, he self-sponsored the Modela Agency/Couture Fashion Show, launching his agency and showcasing his dressmaking skills. He formally established Modela Couture as a business in 2004 after winning the Nigerian Fashion Show (NFS) as Nigeria’s Best Designer of the Year 2024 competition on his first attempt. A highly acclaimed, multi-award-winning fashion creator and costumier, Modela has received over 60 Awards by the end of 2022 including the 2nd prize in the FIMA – Africa Designer of the Year competition 2005, winning a cash prize, and a 3-month all-expenses paid internship trip in Paris with a renowned Parisian designer, Nathalie Garcon.

 

His collections are known for their breathtaking, mixed-media designs, and versatility making significant impacts at fashion shows, beauty competitions, and red-carpet events. 

 

Alongside other innovative fashion creators, Adebayo modela has transformed the fashion scene in Nigeria and the continent, showcasing his avant-garde collections worldwide since 2004, placing Nigeria on the global fashion map.

 

Recognized by both international and local organizations and magazines, 

Adegbe is celebrated for his original, unique, and creative African designs that set the standard for Nigerian haute couture. He has exhibited his work in major cities worldwide, including Paris, South Africa, Pakistan, and the USA. A creative director and style consultant for the Calabar Carnival’s Seagul band since 2015 and the official designer for the Delta State Carnival’s -Ogwachi Ukwu Carnival since 2014, Modela, considers himself a fashion artist rather than a traditional fashion designer, prioritizing uniqueness, excellence, and distinctiveness over trends. His work primarily incorporates African, and ethnic fabrics, art, craftsmanship, and accessories.

 

His design inspiration stems from nature, African arts and crafts, history, interactions with people from diverse backgrounds, Africa’s ethnic markets, folktales, and folklores. He incorporates a wide range of accessories and embellishments from wooden beads to leather, buttons, cowries, safety pins, brooms, crystal beads, wooden beads, sea shells, coconut shells, calabash, gourds, gemstones, seeds, local sponge, painting on fabrics, dyeing, rhinestones, fiberglass, feathers, and raffia, creating a unique blend of ethnic and contemporary elements and sometimes synergy.

 

Productions list of Modela

 

  • All editions of Nigeria TV fashion show for 18 years for Galaxy TV.

 

  • All editions of Mr Nigeria’s competition for Silverbird Productions

 

  • Two editions of Bujumbura Fashion Week in Burundi in 2015,2016

 

  • African Fashion Week Nigeria AFWN 2022,

 

  • Glam Africa Fashion Week 2023, Lagos

 

  • Bikini Fashion Week 1st edition

 

  • Lingerie fashion Week 1st edition 2024

 

  • African Fashion Museum 2024

 

  • Namibia Fashion Week 2013 for an organisation in Windhoek

 

  • Adirelagos by Ecobank 2023, 2024

 

  • Mr & Miss Medilag 2024

NIDO Europe Rep

 Sponsorship, Contacts, and Marketing, Europe

Hon Bims (MBE) is the Secretary-General of Nigerians in Diaspora (NIDO) United Kingdom (UK).  He is the Founder and CEO of Faborks Consulting Limited, a consultancy specialising in Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, Program and Project Management, Management Consultancy, and Quality Management Systems. This role demonstrates a profound leadership ability and a deep commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful solutions across various sectors.

He is a visionary leader known for his exceptional leadership acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence. With a career marked by transformative achievements and a passion for inspiring others to reach their full potential, Hon Bims Oluwasona MBE exemplifies the qualities of integrity, resilience, and strategic thinking that define true leadership.

Throughout his illustrious career, Hon Bims has demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate challenges, drive positive change, and foster a culture of innovation within his organisation. His visionary approach, coupled with a deep sense of empathy and inclusivity, has elevated team performance and inspired individuals to exceed expectations and achieve remarkable success. He is a community leader and an inspiration to the youth of this generation.

As a beacon of inspiration and a catalyst for growth, Hon Bims Oluwasona MBE has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of his organisation and empowering others to embrace leadership opportunities. Hon Bim’s dedication to mentorship, strategic decision-making, and nurturing talent underscores a profound commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

With a proven track record of transformative leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Hon Bims Oluwasona MBE stands as a true exemplar of leadership excellence. The forthcoming Leadership Award is a testament to his outstanding contributions, impactful leadership style, and unwavering dedication to driving positive change and fostering a culture of success.

 

NIDO Europe: Reps

 Sponsorship/Stakeholders Mobilisation Europe

Engr Afolabi is the President of Nigerians in Diaspora, (NIDO) Portugal Chapter. He is a practicing, Engineer who also holds an MBA-Finance; and a Master’s in Material Engineering from the New University of Lisbon, Portugal. 

He is an entrepreneur showcasing a robust blend of expertise spanning fashion, energy, food engineering, and innovation. He demonstrates a wealth of technical insight and business acumen within these sectors. He is the CEO, of 234 Naija Garment Limited where he actively promotes African fashion as a tool for national development. 

His role as the Chairman, of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe-Portugal underscores his commitment to foster investment and bilateral trade between a few EU member states and Nigeria. This mandate speaks to his capacity in MAFEST to facilitate international collaborations and drive economic advancement through strategic partnerships.

Creative Director

Oversees the overall creative vision and direction of the fashion show. Assists the Show Producer in model casting, booking, and management and choreography.

Femi Nosa James (F N J) is a product of Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) 1997. He was a former Dancer with the Dancers Guild of Nigeria and the National Troupe of Nigeria. In his decades of experience in Beauty Pageantry and fashion runway, FNJ, as he is fondly called, is Choreographer and catwalk Instructor and has given his services to Miss Nigeria, Miss Intercontinental, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Aso Rock, Miss Commonwealth, Queen of all Nations, The Face of Abuja Nigeria, Miss Nigeria Football, Queen of Trade Fair Gambia International, and Miss Nigeria Cultural Heritage, to mention but a few. He is also an Award-winning Actor (Best Supporting Male Actor West Africa Gambia 2017) Femi currently runs a Modelling Institute in Abuja.

Manager, Protocol and Logistics

 Ruth Oiza is an event planner, who helps clients to plan, organise, execute, and evaluate their events. After earning a degree in Business Management, from the University of Jos, she entered the financial sector to explore her passion as a Banker. In addition to her primary job functions, as a Clearing Officer representing the bank, she was given recognition by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Ruth has held various posts, one of which was a Customer Service Officer with a couple of pieces of training from different Organizations. After exiting the banking sector, she worked with Briclinks Internet Company as a Marketer/Customer Service Person. As an Event Planner her core values are attention, professionalism, approachable and helpful with a driving force to deliver exceptional customer service experience to clients.

Director of Technical Affairs/ICT

Cornell is a Technologist, Computer Scientist, and IT/ICT Innovation Engineer. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at DeVry Institute of Technology (DeVry University) Columbus, Ohio, and a Master’s degree in Network and Communication Management, sponsored by Wang Global Inc. (now Getronics).

In his professional career, Cole, as he is fondly called, by his associates, has worked with Dell Computer, Houston, Texas, and Compaq Computer (HP), Houston, Texas where he became a Project Manager (SENIOR SYSTEM/SOFTWARE ENGINEER II,) with a key role in the System integration team. Between 2000 and 2003, he worked as CQE Manager with Gadzoox Network, San Jose, California, a leading Fibre Channel Switch Maker and Network Switch. Later, Cornell ventured into Consultancy with his first shot at Citek Solutions, Houston, as NETWORK DESIGN CONSULTANT on· IT/ICT outsourcing, SAN / NSA, and LAN / WAN Services. Similarly, he consulted for EnGlobal Design Group Inc. Tulsa, OK. USA / Nigeria from 2005-2006, installed and configured the “Warri Tank Gauging Project “at Warri Refinery (WRPC) on fiber optics.

Back home, Cole has worked for Galaxy Wireless Communications LTD (2007-2009) Abuja, a Broadband Internet Service Provider, Net Visa GSM LTD, Abuja, as Chief Technical Officer CTO from 2009-2012., and as Chief Technical Officer CTO/Director of Operations – Gita Allied Solutions. Abuja, which provides IT/ICT security services. He was also CTO/Director of Operations – Petro-Drill Oil and Gas, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, and Oil and Gas explorations and production services. 

Director, of Sponsorship

Secures sponsors, advertisers, and Exhibitors

Prince is the founder and chief Executive officer of YGC Records Entertainment and also the founder of YGC Foundation, an initiative that was set up in 2019 to create more awareness to help reduce the effect of Sickle cell Anaemia in Africa, He’s based in Lagos, also an entrepreneur. He’s a graduate of the University of Lagos with a B.S.C in Cell Biology and Genetics and a master’s in Natural resources Management (NRM),

He is a self-driven individual and a multitalented Entrepreneur who has partnered with brands such as Green October Event, Miss Hot Legs Nigeria, Black Jack Valentine party, and many more …