Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi

Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi grew up in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, in a home where creativity and craftsmanship were part of everyday life. Her mother, Elizabeth Okuboyejo, was a fashion entrepreneur who ran the label Betti-O, known for designing clothes with local Adire fabric. Adenike attended St. Louis Grammar School in Ibadan before enrolling to study law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a path she eventually left in her second year to follow her true calling in fashion. Starting from scratch, she founded Ruff ‘n’ Tumble in 1996 after noticing that children’s clothing in Nigeria was either poorly made or imported and extremely expensive. She began by selling from the boot of her car at bazaars and local markets, and by 2000, she had opened her flagship store at Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Today, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble operates over 300 employees, 17 retail outlets across major Nigerian cities, and a strong online presence, making it one of the most respected children’s clothing brands in West Africa. She has also served as a Non-Executive Director of Lafarge Africa Plc since March 2015 and is one of the judges on Lions’ Den, the Nigerian adaptation of the global business reality show.

Beyond business, Adenike’s heart for people is just as remarkable as her entrepreneurial drive. She founded the Betti-O Foundation in memory of her late mother, a non-profit that trains young individuals in fashion design, soft skills, and entrepreneurship, and has partnered with the Lagos State Ministry for Wealth Creation and Employment to train 50 youths in garment making. She also established the “I Share Cuz I Care” Foundation in 2014, which educates and empowers children, particularly orphans and those living on the streets. Additionally, she is a founding member and the first president of the Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), an organization dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. She is a proud mother of three and is married to Adegbola Ogunlesi, co-founder of the men’s fashion label Sofisticat.