Kola-ogunlade, Akpokabayen Headline O2 Academy Lagos Saturday Class

On Saturday, 17 October, Taiwo Kola-ogunlade, the Head of Communications & Public Relations for Google West Africa and renowned visual communications expert and a photographer extraordinaire, Barret Ese Akpokabayen will lead the creative class of O2 Academy Lagos at 11/13 Jumat Lukoya Street, Off Ogudu Road, Lagos.

Kola-ogunlade will be speaking on ‘DIGITAL CREATIVE AND DATA APPLICATIONS’ while Ese Akpokabayen will be speaking on ‘BEHIND THE LENS’.

Taiwo Kola-ogunlade is one of the region’s top advocates for digital/web technologies in journalism. In addition to managing Google’s communications strategies and efforts in the region, Taiwo also focuses on helping the media understand how to incorporate new media and online strategies into their trades.

Taiwo’s communications consulting experience spans major sectors as Telecommunications, Electronics and Home appliances, Banking and Pension management, and FMCG through a 15year period. Prior to joining Google, Taiwo was Account Director at Insight Grey, managing the communications function of some the most active and notable brands in the Nigeria and the West African region.

On the other hand, Akpokabayen is a Painting and Graphics major from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He delved into the world of Photography quite early and was hooked. 16 years later, you’d be hard-pressed to find him without a camera.

With a University degree in the bag, he took the old fashioned route: studying with a master: he understudied Bruce Onobrakpeya for 5 years, mastering the legendary artist’s unique print-making techniques and replicating them in his own works which have been featured in the National Art Gallery and many other global exhibitions.


In 2004, He started his own private Photography Studio where he specializes in Glamour Photography, Advertising Photography and Art Photography. Since then he has been facilitator/instructor in numerous workshops and seminars. As a professional photographer he has done works for Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom, Cadbury, Pepsi and Access Bank. He won ModeMen award for photographer of the year 2010.

Skill, study, experience, passion and creativity all converged into one powerful focal point, and Barrett Akpokabayen Photography was born. The balance between photography, art and design (graphic, web and animation) suddenly became reality. He is committed to promoting the development of Art and photography in Nigeria and within the African continent as a whole.

Last saturday, the Academy had top industry experts: Chamberline Ukenedo, Associate Creative Director 141 Worldwide. Oje Ojeaga, Head of creative copy X3MIdeas and Kunle Shittu, Director new business at STB MC CANN as guest speakers. They were on hand to dish out useful industry tips, advice and corrections after assessing the students first leg group project work presentations. This is in preparation for the students final project work presentation coming up on the 31st of october.

02 Academy is a hands-on creative Academy by a team of seasoned Advertising professionals to selflessly grow new ad men & revolutionize the ad world.