2009
B.A. Mass Communication
Babcock University
Completed undergraduate study after serving as Vice President of the Mass Communication Students’ Association.
About Joan Adu
A life shaped by story, service and culture
I want to be known as the person who uses stories to inspire people, preserve culture, and create lasting impact.
Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications
Rome Business School Nigeria
Mini MBA
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
B.A. Mass Communication
Babcock University
ANIPR
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
Winner, MSME Awards for Excellence in Fashion and Style
2019
South-West MSME Ambassador
2019
Non-Executive Board Member (Marketing & Communications)
ACE Grade
Chapter 01
Who I am now
I am an entrepreneur, corporate communications and marketing consultant, and author. Across more than fifteen years, I have helped organisations strengthen visibility, engage stakeholders and tell stories that create lasting impact. My work brings together professional communication, entrepreneurial thinking and a deep commitment to cultural preservation.
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Roots
I grew up in Lagos in a household shaped by faith, family and community. Responsibility, resilience, bold dreams and an uncompromising standard of excellence were part of everyday life. Those early lessons still inform how I work, lead and serve.
Chapter 03
Finding my voice
The Drama Club in secondary school first showed me the power of storytelling. I later studied Mass Communication at Babcock University and served as Vice President of the Mass Communication Students’ Association, experiences that strengthened both my voice and my sense of responsibility.
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Chapter 04
The work begins
During my undergraduate internship at The Quadrant Company, a full-service public relations agency, I saw communication as both craft and calling. It was the beginning of a career shaped by reputation, narrative and the practical work of helping ideas travel clearly.
Chapter 05
Entrepreneurial thinking meets communication
I left corporate life to build Agbeke full-time, then later returned with a clearer conviction: communications expertise and entrepreneurial thinking make each other stronger. One teaches discipline, structure and stakeholder awareness; the other teaches resourcefulness, ownership and the courage to begin.
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Chapter 06
Built quietly
I came through a season of compounding difficulty that refined rather than defined me. Rebuilding with very little required faith, perseverance and strength built quietly. It deepened my understanding of purpose and made service, integrity and lasting impact even more important.
Chapter 07
Why Agbeke exists
Agbeke began during a period of transition in Ibadan, when corporate work was hard to find and I chose to start rather than remain idle. The name is my oríkì — a Yoruba praise name. My late grandmother called me “Oluwadamilola Agbeke”, and naming the venture for that memory became a way of honouring her while preserving the artistry of Aṣọ-Òkè for a new generation.
Agbeke — a Yoruba praise name carried with affection and honour.
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What I believe
Faith is my foundation. I try to express it through purpose, excellence, integrity and service — in how I build, how I communicate and how I treat people.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
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Chapter 09
What I care about
I care about cultural preservation and the artisans whose skill keeps heritage alive. I also care deeply about mentoring young professionals, entrepreneurs and women in business, helping them recognise the value of their voice and build with intention.
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Chapter 10
Beyond the work
My life is also shaped by faith, family in its broadest sense, church, mentoring, travel, reading and writing. These are not separate from the work; they are part of the perspective I bring to it.
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Legacy
I want to be remembered for purpose, integrity and impact — for lifting others, preserving what matters and using stories to create possibilities that outlive the moment.
Professional journey
A career shaped across communication and enterprise
Early career
Communications becomes the path
The Quadrant Company
An undergraduate internship at a full-service public relations agency confirmed a vocation in communications.
2016
Founded Agbeke
Agbeke Alasooke
Began a cultural venture dedicated to preserving Aṣọ-Òkè through contemporary design and storytelling.
2019
National recognition
Received the MSME Award for Excellence in Fashion and Style and was conferred as a South-West MSME Ambassador.
2023
Mini MBA
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Completed the Mini MBA programme.
2025–2026
Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications
Rome Business School Nigeria
In view.
Press imagery
Approved portraits and public moments
A curated selection of client-supplied photographs for editorial and media reference.
