Sola Oyebade

Sola Oyebade, also known professionally as Mr Mahogany, is a show producer and creative entrepreneur whose work over four decades has helped define the standards and possibilities of live event production across Africa. As the CEO of Mahogany International and a member of the International Live Events Association, he is known for organising complex, multi-stakeholder events that balance commercial viability with cultural significance.

A trained sociologist from the University of Lagos, Sola began his career as a model before relocating to the United Kingdom, where he spent fifteen years in corporate and civil society roles, including serving as Chief Executive of the East London Citizens Advice Bureau. In 1996, he returned to his original passion and founded Mahogany International. Since then, the company has produced some of Nigeria's most significant live events: GTCO Fashion Weekend (from inception), GTCO Food & Drink Fair, Union Bank's Edu360, Music Meets Runway, Lagos Jazz Series, and the Nigerian Centenary Summit, among others.

His expertise encompasses event planning, stage management, talent coordination, casting, logistics, and execution for a wide range of events, including fashion shows, concerts, corporate events, theatre productions, award ceremonies, and festivals. Beyond production, Sola has built institutional frameworks that professionalise access to the industry. Through the Mahogany Training Academy, Sola has built a platform that has trained over 50 event professionals in the art of show production.

Sola Oyebade regularly shares his knowledge on creative entrepreneurship, leadership, and the business of live events at platforms including the Africa Fashion & Arts Conference, TEXA (The Event Xperience Africa), and EATOW Global. His perspective is shaped by decades of navigating the commercial realities of production, managing cross-functional teams, and overcoming the challenges of building sustainable creative businesses in markets with limited infrastructure.

His recognitions include Top Charts Africa's 100 Most Influential People of 2025, Ten Faces Behind Nigeria's Fashion Footprint (BusinessDay, 2023), 100 Highlights (Black in Events Network, 2022), Top 50 Most Influential Icons in Nigeria (The Icons Awards, 2021), Fashion Icon of the Decade (Lagos Fashion Awards, 2016), and the Nigerian Centenary Award (UK, 2014). Sola Oyebade remains committed to raising event production standards, mentoring emerging talent, and proving that African creative industries can compete on execution, scale, and professionalism.