When we talk of top-performing professionals shaping the creative space, our Man Crush Monday, Tolulope Olamide Ajayi leads the pack. For over two decades, working as a creative professional, director and producer, he has spearheaded several creative projects in advertising, broadcasting, film and television.
In the world of advertising, Tolulope managed numerous projects for clients like Guinness, GTBank, Nestle, Access Bank, Interswitch, Procter & Gamble, and MTN. And as an agency producer, he helped create some of television’s most memorable moments.
Tolulope is known for his work directing popular series such as M-Net’s Tinsel, Gidi Up Season 3, and MTV’s Shuga season 3. His first short film Blink was widely acclaimed – it was shortlisted for the Signes de Nuit film festival in Paris, and received awards at the In-Short Film Festival, Lagos, among other accolades. Another short film The Encounter, which examines the relationship between two pivotal leaders during the Nigerian Civil War won a Special Jury award at AFRIFF 2015, Best Soundtrack at AMVCA 2017, and other accolades like Newsweek’s Best Nigerian films of 2016. Thirst, his underwater short film about conditions in the Niger Delta was a finalist in the We Art Water global film festival; Special Day, a short film about homeless children in Lagos won a Platinum Award at the Summit International Awards; and Closed, a narrative on education won a Bronze Medal at the Loerie 2018 awards.
Tolulope is a creative mentor and speaks about the creative industry at several events. He taught creativity and TV production at Pan African University – School for Media and Communication in 2008. He delivered the keynote speech at the 2011 Lagos Advertising Awards, and also spoke on digital marketing at Fate Foundation that same year. At the 2021 Pride Lagos Creative Enterprise Week, he spoke on the future of TV in Nigeria.
Tolulope has come a long way as the 16-year-old intern cartoonist at Vanguard newspapers, with his industry accolades for quality creative executions serving as witness. He is a Man Crush Monday like no other because of his significant contributions to the Nigerian creative industry. We celebrate his successes and wish him more.