Omoyemi Akerele (born 13 May 1978) is a Nigerian executive, businesswoman, and entrepreneur. She is the Founder and CEO of Lagos Fashion Week, Style House Files, and serves as Special Advisor to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). She holds several advisory roles, including with Industrie Africa, Jendaya, MoMA, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the United Nations, the British Fashion Council, and the State of Fashion Netherlands.
Career
Akerele was born in Lagos, Nigeria. She holds:
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, University of Lagos
- Master’s in International Economic Law, University of Warwick
Early Career
- 2000–2003: Worked at Olaniwun Ajayi & Co, a Nigerian law firm
- 2004: Transitioned from law to the fashion industry
Fashion and Business Career
2004: Co-founded Exclusive Styling with Bola Balogun, styling celebrities for:
- Big Brother
- Idols West Africa
- Deal or No Deal
2005–2010: Fashion Editor at True Love, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for Black women
2008: Founded Style House Files, a fashion business development agency focused on:
- Strengthening Nigeria’s garment production capacity
- Supporting retail expansion of African brands globally
2011: Launched Lagos Fashion Week, Africa’s largest clothing trade show:
- Annual 4-day event in Lagos
- Showcases 60+ African designers
- Draws 12,000+ attendees per season
- Promotes sustainability and craftsmanship through initiatives like:
- Woven Threads
- Green Access
International Collaborations
Partnered with London Fashion Week, Pitti Immagine, and others to showcase African brands globally
2017: Member of advisory committee for Items: Is Fashion Modern? at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Featured African designers and textiles
- Delivered a keynote at the MoMA Live conference
2021:
- Named Zero Oil Ambassador for Nigeria by Olusegun Awolowo
- Oversaw ₦500 million grant to support 30 Nigerian fashion brands
2022:
- Runway footage featured in Africa Fashion exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum
- Gave keynote address at the event and served as advisor to the curatorial team
Speaking Engagements
Akerele has spoken at notable platforms including:
- BOF Voices
- Copenhagen Fashion Summit
- Conde Nast International Luxury Conference
- MoMA New York Items Conference
- London Business School
- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York
- Lagos Business School
- Museum of Ethnology Hamburg
- Fashion Business Series, Lagos Fashion Week
- African Development Bank Fashionomics
- WIMBIZ
- Retail Congress Africa
- British Council's Creative Industries Expo
- African Creative Economy Conference
- Creative Enterprises Forum
Personal Life
Omoyemi Akerele is married to Tokunbo Akerele, a Nigerian executive and board member. They have three daughters and reside in Lagos, Nigeria.
Awards and Honours
- Business of Fashion Global 500 list: 2017–2022
- Outstanding Contribution to African Fashion, AFI Fashion Awards: 2014
- Zero Non Oil Ambassador for Nigeria: 2021