‘I was Inspired by the Vision of Building Something Meaningful’, Lessons from Morenike Molehin’s Journey

Morenike Molehin is a lover of logic and structure. She began her professional life with solid academic credentials… a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Mathematics from Covenant University and a Master’s in Financial Mathematics and Computation from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, before discovering that her true calling is not in spreadsheets, but in spaces.

“I believe that university education is not limiting, but rather a stepping stone to various roads,” she once reflected, describing how her grounding in mathematics equipped her to tackle business challenges with analytical precision.

Molehin’s professional life began in the corporate world. After a brief stint at ExxonMobil and roles in consulting and operations management, she nurtured a quiet passion for design that first surfaced when she renovated her own home. What started as private joy soon became public demand. Friends and family began to ask for her help, admiring the warmth, balance and functionality she brought to spaces that were simultaneously elegant and lived-in.

“It was a leap of faith,” she says of the decision to leave her full-time job in 2017 and pursue Oak and Teak Interiors full time, the company she founded in 2013. Today, Oak and Teak stands among Africa’s fastest-growing interior design firms, serving high-profile residential and commercial clients and delivering complex projects that include five-star hotels and luxury homes. Under Molehin’s leadership, the company has expanded beyond Nigeria into Dubai, Rwanda, Ghana and even the United States, where operations were established to meet rising global demand.

Molehin’s work has earned both local and international recognition. In 2022, her firm was named the Best Luxury Residential Interior Design Company in Nigeria. In 2023 she was honoured as Entrepreneur of the Year at the ELOY Awards and listed among the Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria by Leading Ladies Africa. In 2024, Gabi Magazine included her among the Top 100 Career Women in Africa, validating her design excellence, strategic leadership and brand growth.

“I was fuelled by the vision of building something meaningful,” she explains…a phrase that resonates across her many roles as entrepreneur, mentor and community builder.

Molehin’s influence extends far beyond beautifying spaces. She is the driving force behind the Grow With Renny (GWR) Conference and mentorship programme, a platform that empowers thousands of young women and young adults with practical insights into business, career growth, personal development, relationships and spirituality. What began as a small gathering has evolved into a movement that fills venues and inspires lives.

“Passion turned into purpose for me when I realised that it wasn’t just about creating beautiful spaces,” she explains. “It was about creating opportunities for others to see their potential.”

Molehin has channelled her influence into philanthropy through the Oak and Teak Foundation, a vehicle for strategic interventions in healthcare, education and community development. The foundation’s work includes renovating schools and hospitals and creating more conducive environments for learning and healing, projects that proves her belief that business and social impact can, and should, co-exist.

Balancing leadership with family life is part of Molehin’s narrative, not a sidebar. Married since 2011 to her husband, Yomi Molehin, described by many as her greatest supporter, she is a mother of two daughters. Her personal journey and professional ascent highlight a reality many women experience: excellence seldom comes without challenge, and ambition often requires a supportive community.

“Every woman in business needs a solid support system,” she once said.

Molehin’s vision for the future is bold: positioning Oak and Teak among the top interior design firms globally by 2030, while expanding the reach of GWR and the foundation’s impact.