Our Man Crush Monday, Obi Asika tops the list of names of Nigerian creative entrepreneurs. He is the Founder of Iba Ajie, Co-Founder of Africa Soft Power Project, Founder Cabal Entertainment, and Co-Founder Social Media Week Lagos. He is also the Founder of Storm, which for decades has brought us iconic TV shows, events and music records.
Obi has always championed a thriving Nigerian creative industry. He is involved in technology, sports, media and entertainment, and is hailed as one of the main architects that took the Nigerian sight and sound to the global audience.
The legendary record label he founded Storm was instrumental in the global explosion of Nigerian music. Obi has led major global TV projects as an Executive Producer including FIFA U20 World Cup 1999, CAF Nations Cup 2000, Big Brother Nigeria 2006, Dragons Den Nigeria 2007, The Apprentice Africa 2008, Naija Sings 2009–2012, Calabar Festival 2008 & Calabar Rocks TV Series 2008, Soccerex West Africa 2012, SMWLagos 2012–2021. Social Media Week Lagos is one of the largest new media and technology conferences in Africa.
Obi has also shown his leadership capabilities by chairing various projects. He was the Vice-Chairman of Kwara Utd, a Nigerian premier league football team from 2003 to 2005. He is a senior member of the Presidential Advisory Group driving the Nigeria Startup Bill. He is the National Coordinator of the Technical Working Group for the Creative Industries, Tourism, Culture and Hospitality Sectors which contributes to the Nigeria 2050 Agenda – the national development plan.
Obi Asika has established his personal brand having worked with an array of multilateral organisations, corporations, governments, brands and agencies. He is a graduate of The University of Warwick, Nigeria Law School, and Eton college.
For driving the expansion and explosion of the Nigerian creative industry, Obi Asika stands as Our Man Crush Monday we will always root for.