When “Mummy Courage” Adeola Falomo Celebrated Her 63rd Birthday and 17 Years of Creative Entrepreneurship

A Feature Profile & Interview from The Podium International Magazine

Profile & Background

Adeola Falomo is the Creative Director, Event Stylist, and Founder of Courage Events. She is an alumna of Methodist Girls High School (Yaba) and a Chartered Insurer with the Chartered Institute of Insurance (London). She holds an MBA in Marketing and a degree in Business Management from the European Business School (Luxembourg). Before her foray into Event Styling, she worked at LASACO Assurance Plc. for 22 years before retiring as an Assistant General Manager in the Public Sector.

Her transition from the corporate world into the Events industry was very seamless. Her entry was a breath of fresh air, and her impact has been incomparable. Her creativity, flair for excellence, and penchant for design led her to set up Courage Enterprise (registered in 1996), which later transformed into Courage Designs and Events (incorporated in 2010). Today, it is an industry leader in event styling and organisation and continues to set the pace in the Nigerian events industry.

She has always been an event stylist who does things differently. Her work over the years shows an event professional unwaveringly dedicated to excellence in her craft, always leading the way in creating and spotting the newest event trends. This continually strengthens her expertise as an industry leader and inspires many other professionals in the sector.

She has received numerous awards and commendations for excellence in service delivery over the years, including The Pacesetter Award by Motivational Ventures. She has also participated in several conferences and workshops in the Insurance and Event industries, both locally and internationally, dedicated to continually perfecting her craft.

Beyond event styling, she is also an encourager and mentor to many. Her NGO, Courage-A-Hand, has worked tirelessly to help young men and women flourish in their chosen careers by providing mentorship and advice in partnership with other platforms.

Celebration & Milestone

Mrs Falomo is an affable, amiable, hardworking, unassuming, and dedicated business executive who has proven her mettle as a resourceful, focused professional and creative entrepreneur.

Family members, business associates, clients, and friends gathered on Sunday, September 20, 2026, to celebrate her 63rd birthday. The occasion also marked 17 years since she left paid employment and 23 years of successful entrepreneurship following her voluntary resignation as Assistant General Manager at LASACO.

At the gathering, various speakers extolled the virtues of Mrs Falomo and thanked God for her life. Speakers described her in superlative terms that reinforced the public perception of her as one of Nigeria’s frontline creative entrepreneurs—enigmatic, kind, and supportive.

Professional Affiliations

Mrs Falomo is affiliated with the following professional associations in various capacities:

• Lifetime member and former Social Secretary, Professional Insurance Association.
• Member, Association of Professional Party Organisers and Events Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN).
• Member, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
• Member, Rental Professionals Society of Nigeria (RPSN).
• Associate member, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).
• Life member and former Social Secretary, Professional Insurance Ladies Association (PILA).
• Member, Party Managers Association of Nigeria (PAMAN).

In Conversation: Excerpts from the Interview

Mrs Falomo spoke with Oloye Ademola Akinbola, Publisher of The Podium International Magazine, on why she quit paid employment, the lessons she has learnt in her entrepreneurship journey, and her plans for Courage Designs and Events. Below are excerpts from the interview:

How has the journey been since you quit paid employment?

“The journey couldn’t have been better. I have never, for one day, regretted leaving paid employment. The Lord led me to start Courage as a side hustle—something to do while trying to make ends meet. The transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship was smooth. A few weeks before I left the office, I had reason to run my statements of account as AGM and also for my little business. I discovered that the little business was bringing in more money than my salary.”

What are the challenges you have faced and how have you confronted them?

“The early challenge was a lack of patronage. It was a bit tedious to break even in the market. When I could not break even in decoration, I started buying and selling children’s party needs.”

How did you arrive at the name “Courage”? Is there any story around it?

“I had just finished reading the first chapter of the book of Joshua in the Bible around 2:00 AM, and I retired to my bed. As I laid my head on my pillow, I heard a voice say, ‘Courage, that is your business name.’ I jumped out of bed, wrote it down, and searched for the appropriate verse in Chapter 1: Joshua 1:9. That was in 1996. The name has stayed ever since.”

Milestones & Key Recognition

By the grace of God, we have done many quality jobs for individual clients and corporate customers across various sectors of the economy. Our work has been critically acclaimed, and we have won many awards. Key recognitions include:

• Product and Services Excellence Award (PASE) by Success Motivational Venture (2005)
• Outstanding Event and Decor Company of the Year by Southwest Legendary Awards (2021)
• Recognition Plaque for Support and Value Added by APPOEMN (2023)
• Spirit Awards (2024)
• Resilience and Commitment Award (2025)
• Nominee, Best Rental Company for two consecutive years
• Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Decorators Summit Community (Twice)
• Award of Excellence as Best Rental Company of the Year 2025 by PAMAN
• Recognition for Sponsorship & Contributions by RPSN (2022)
• Best Service Provider Award (2025)

What are your major areas of focus?

“I started Courage with little or nothing. I started by making bedsheets, pyjamas, and nightwear before I moved on to decor training. Even after I learned decoration, I couldn’t get jobs. Rather than giving up, I started selling decoration accessories. I later moved on to children’s parties and entertainment. By the time I decided to leave my job in 2009, I had started earning people’s trust, and my watchwords are integrity and excellence. I wouldn’t take any job that I can’t attach my name to. My slogan is: you are as good as your last job. Doing excellently in your last job shouldn’t make you relax in the next. Decoration has let me enter rooms I wouldn’t have access to, meeting people I would have had to fill a thousand and one forms to see.”

Courage Group Business Structure • Courage Events: Decoration and Event Planning • Courage Rental: Renting decoration props and accessories • Courage Furniture: Renting bespoke furniture, marquees, canopies, chairs, VIP and banquet tables

Which new products are you unveiling?

“Quite a lot. These include ‘Tents by Courage’—full marquee services covering tent flooring, stages, LED dance floors, different kinds of executive chairs, and decoration accessories like chandeliers and lighting.”

Ministry and Pastoral Journey

Mrs Falomo was ordained a pastor in January 2012. She has attended various ministry-oriented courses, including Children Evangelism (2013) and Deliverance for Churches (2012). She obtained a Diploma in Pastoral Studies from the Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) in 2023, the same year she became a Jerusalem Pilgrim.

She is currently the Welfare Coordinator of the CLAM Global Outreach (CLAMGO), the evangelism and crusade arm of CLAM. She has actively participated in crusades held across multiple states:

• Ondo State: Akure (2014), Oke Igbo, Ijare, Ile-Oluji, Bamikemo, and Igbara Oke
• Ogun State: Abeokuta and Ikenne
• Osun State: Ile-Ife and Ipetu Ijesha
• Ekiti State: Iyin Ekiti
• Abia State: Aba
• Lagos State: Ologundade, Fadeyi, and Lekki

Her leadership roles within ministry include:

• Coordinator, Parents Interceding Prayer Meeting (PIPM) at CLAM
• Convener, Deola Falomo Evangelical Ministry (Deefem)
• Host, Isheri Olofin Liberation Crusade and Ogba Restoration Crusade