IO Furniture Innovation Award: Damola Rufai wins 2015 edition

The four finalists Damola Rufai, Yinka Dayo-Adepoju, Nafisat Dada and Babalola Ishmaeel displayed and delivered stellar pitches at the IO Furniture Innovation Award

The IO Furniture Innovation Award drew to a close on Wednesday 30 September at the IO Furniture showroom in Ilupeju, Lagos.

The four finalists Damola Rufai, Yinka Dayo-Adepoju, Nafisat Dada and Babalola Ishmaeel displayed and delivered stellar pitches to the judges; Arc. Tayo Babalakin, the President of the Association of Consulting Architects Nigeria (ACAN), Muni Shonibare, The Chief Executive Officer of IO Furniture, Stefano Moretti, the Head of Production at IO Furniture, Dami Akinniyi representative of Arc. Papa Omotayo, Creative Director MOE+, Nike Ogunlesi, Chief Executive Officer of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble and members of the Association of Consulting Architects Nigeria (ACAN).

Damola Rufai’s ‘Esho Table’ was chosen as the winning design and was granted the One Million Naira cash prize. The design will be produced and added to the their product line, he will also receive royalties on his design for a period of one year. 

The ‘Esho Table’ is a versatile design that can be used in both commercial and residential settings. Made of a glass top and welded steel rods, it was designed with low poly graphics in mind to conjure up images of a cut jewel. Named after the Yoruba word for treasure or jewel, ‘Esho’ was created with the use of sustainable re-usable materials.

Other finalists, Yinka Dayo-Adepoju, Nafisat Dada and Babalola Ishmael emerged 2, 3 and 4 in the competition. To reward their efforts, IO Furniture awarded them Three Hundred Thousand Naira, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira and Fifty thousand naira respectively.

The furniture company will continue to further develop the programme as a system to promote and empower young Nigerian talent.