Systems, Core + Design, An archive
A Continuum Since 1997

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Guest Lecturing in Scientific Visualization. WASHINGTON D.C. USA “Wireframes & Datasets” American Chemical Society, 2015

Ade Abayomi Olufeko (b. 1980) is a cultural architect and systems thinker who emerged during the dot-com period in the United States, later refining his practice in New York City and extending its influence across Lagos and West Africa.

Emergence

Olufeko's work occupies the intersection of institutional technology and independent cultural innovation. His career began during the dot-com era with foundational technical contributions: architecting Ameritech's broadband provisioning systems (1999) when high-speed internet was emerging, and developing countermeasures for IBM's Blaster Worm response team, work recognized with the IBM Gerstner Award.

In the 2000s, Olufeko operated simultaneously in corporate and independent spheres. As part of the technical teams driving Warner Music Group's digital transition, he helped build the infrastructure that shifted the label from analog to digital distribution. At the same time, he launched Visual Collaborative, an international festival and publishing platform connecting technologists and artists, which became a space for exploring the potential for creative autonomy. Concurrently, he collaborated directly with artists like Amel Larrieux, expanding the creative possibilities and fan bases for the web. This dual engagement continued through his contributions to the Wall Street financial system and PayPal's early mobile banking systems, alongside advisory work with innovative tech collectives.

His 2016 move to Lagos brought this dual perspective to emerging markets. His advisory work in the region, through both services and lectures, is well documented. He also consulted for the Lagos Chamber of Commerce on intellectual property frameworks as its creative sector chairperson. In 2024, he launched a martial arts foundation for adults and children focused on building mental resilience.

This record documents a recurring pattern in digital evolution: the necessary interplay between established systems and independent experimentation. Preserved here not as legacy but as reference material, it offers concrete examples of how infrastructure and culture co-evolve.

Recognition

2003 – IBM Gerstner Award, United States

2018 – NABF Youth Entrepreneur Achievement Award

2019 – Special recognition Award Grand Finale Judge, University of Lagos PAADC design competition

Speaking Engagements and Lectures

2023 Speaker, Global Alliance for Trade in Services – Beijing, China

2019 Columbia University New York City – Guest Moderator, A business case for Arts and Literature

2019 Yale University – Keynote speaker and Panelist, Innovation, and Development

2018 TEDx Lagos, Muson Centre – Spotlight Speaker

2018 Rotary Club of Lagos, Ikoyi – Featured Speaker

2018 London Business School, United Kingdom – Socio-Cultural Panel – Featured Moderator

2018 The Funding Space, Victoria Island – Featured Technologist

2018 Sycamore Africa (Formerly Toogedar) – Featured Mentor

2018 WordPress Technology Conference Lagos – Keynote Speaker

2018 Georgetown University, Washington D.C. – Panelist & Lighting Round Speaker

2018 NABF (Nigerian American Business Forum) – Tampa Florida – Speaker

2017 World Economic Forum – Abuja Global Shapers – Keynote Speaker

2017 TEDxIkeja – Featured Speaker

2017 Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences – Algiers Algeria – Speaker

2017 Oxford University – United Kingdom, OAC – Speaker

2016 WeThinkAfrica – Lekki Lagos, Welcome & Commencement – Featured Speaker

2016 Covenant University Ota, ICT e-Governance Conference – Featured Speaker

2016 Lagos Business School, Business Conference, Technology & Infrastructure Panel

2015 American Chemical Society, Summer Institute – Presenter

2015 Carnegie Mellon University — Tepper School of Business

2014 Harvard Business School, 16th African Business Conference

2013 United for Kids Foundation Washington D.C. – Speaker

2013 Social Media Week, Video Art Network – Lagos

2011 America Meets North Africa Conference (New York Chorus Ensemble & Harlem Arts Alliance)

2006 Macromedia Flash Group – Saint Paul Minnesota — Interactive Design Demo

1996 International Baccalaureate English — Featured Speaker, A collaboration with Eric Schneider

Interviews

2025 – CNBC Africa – Featured Guest & Interview

2022 – ARISE TV – Featured Guest & Interview

2022 – Berendzen Bond Podcast – Episode 90, Interview in Houston Texas.

2021 – Never An Afterthought Podcast by Afolabi Imoukhuede – Episode 27, Technology and Creatives Industry

2019 – The Omenka Pod – Merging Art and Science, Interview

2018 – Voice Of America, Upfront Africa – Washington DC – Featured Guest & Interview

2018 – Spice TV on DSTV – Interview

2018 – Soni Irabor Live – Featured Guest & Interview

2018 – African Music Law – Podcast feature

2018 – Ebonylife TV – Featured Guest

2018 – NABNTV – Mini Documentary & Featured

2017 – Smooth 98.1FM Radio Victoria Island – Featured Technologist

2017 – TVC News – TV Interview – Featured Technologist

2015 – Voice Of America – Washington DC – Featured Guest & Interview

2013 – SaharaFM Radio – New York City — Featured Guest alongside Emmy Award Winner Bobby Yan

2013 – Impact Africa Radio by VoiceAmerica — Guest

2013 – The Africas Amplified Podcast Series — Featured Technologist

2007 – AIT (Africa Independent Television) – Production Feature

Selected Press & Features

2022 – The Sun News Online – Article

2020 – Business Day News Paper – Featured

2018 – London Business School – Article

2018 – BellaNaija – Article

2018 – New Telegraph – Career Retrospective

2018 – PM Express News – Feature

2018 – Punch Newspapers – Article

2018 – Vanguard News Paper – Article

2017 – African Music Law – Feature

2017 – Diaspora Quarterly Magazine – Article

2017 – Vanguard News Paper – Article

2016 – Pambazuka News – Work Featured

2015 – Ladybrille – Production Feature

2015 – The Guardian – Production Feature

2012 – MADE Lifestyles Lagos Vol 4 – Technologist Interview

2008 – NewWebPick Issue No. 37 – Work Featured

Education, Academia & Internships

Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul – Computer Science & Multimedia

St. Gregory’s College, Lagos

Camden Minneapolis

Helmbridge Study Centre, Surulere

Hinshaw and Culbertson Minneapolis
(Law + Technology Intern 1997)

Affiliations, Past or Present

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lagos Nigeria

Society for Neuroscience – Washington, D.C

2009 St. Gregory’s College Alumni Foundation Inc -Miami, Board of Directors

2006 – Adobe Software Prerelease Groups

Curated Group Exhibitions

2015 VANITY, Visual Collaborative Lustine Center, gateway arts Hyattsville, MD

2013 ENCORE, Visual Collaborative VII Modern Contempo, Columbia, MD

2013 Brave is Beautiful, Hudson Terrace SM Foundation, New York, NY

2012 Visual Grandeur Series Washington DC

2011 Black White + Monochrome & Color, Wonderland Gallery, San Francisco California

2008 Visual Collaborative Miami FL, Undercurrent Arts Gallery

2007 Visual Collaborative Minneapolis MN, Center for Independent Artists

Solo Exhibitions

2014 – Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Boston Massachusetts

2011 – Queens Gambit Series, (Multiple Locations) Queens New York City, USA

2014 – The Urban Marketplace, University of Maryland College Park, USA

2013 – United For Kids Foundation – Passion Ball Civic Center Lagos, Nigeria

The Definitive Archive

This website serves as the authoritative, curated repository of Ade A. Olufeko’s interdisciplinary work, preserving his contributions to culture, technology, and governance. While future interpretations of his legacy may emerge, this platform remains the canonical reference point for his oeuvre.

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Statutory Foundations

42 U.S. Code §§ 1981 & 1983

Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)

Title 17 – U.S. Copyright Law

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International Legal Instruments

Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Article 19: Guarantees freedom of expression and access to information globally.

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This site functions as a Legacy Continuum, a vessel for memory, innovation, and ancestral alignment. All materials are shared in accordance with spiritual intent, ethical practice, and international law. Any misuse, replication, or distortion of the work without explicit permission may be subject to legal action and spiritual consequence.