Convened by Olawale Bamidele, founder of UX Thrive and one of Nigeria’s leading UX designers and mentors, the free event, which ran from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM WAT, brought together Nigeria’s design and technology talent under the theme “From User to Experience.”
Olawale Bamidele has positively influenced over 1,000 designers through UX Thrive, with direct mentorship extended to more than 200 aspiring UX professionals. His leadership in organizing ThinkUX further demonstrates his commitment to fostering growth, knowledge sharing, and mentorship within Nigeria’s design community.
Keynote Presentations Set the Tone
The conference featured inspiring keynote presentations from four industry leaders who shared their insights and experiences in transforming Africa’s digital landscape. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, attendees gained insights from industry veterans who shared practical strategies, cutting-edge techniques, and lessons learned from building successful products and companies.
The keynote speakers were:
- Olawale Bamidele – Founder, UX Thrive & Convener, ThinkUX
- David Adefunmilayo – Founder, Efico (LinkedIn)
- Kachi Kalu – Product Designer, Payaza (LinkedIn)
- Damola Bamgboye – Managing Director, Mercurie Labs (powering AdPay.ng) (LinkedIn)
These speakers set the stage for the day’s discussions, addressing critical topics from the future of user experience design in Africa to entrepreneurship, innovation, and building sustainable technology solutions that solve real problems across the continent.
Four Transformative Panel Sessions
The conference featured four dynamic panel discussions that explored critical topics shaping the future of design and technology in Africa:
Panel 1: The Role of AI in UX – Building Seamless Cross-Platform Experiences
Moderated by Folashade Adegbite, this session explored how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing user experience design across multiple platforms. The panel brought together:
- Femi Richards – Founder, UX Foundry (LinkedIn)
- Fawaz Ibrahim – Founder, The Best Designers (LinkedIn)
- Babatunde Yusuf – Software Designer & Global Talent Product Designer (LinkedIn)
- Elisha Odemakinde – Founder, RectLab INC & Co-Founder, BimpeAI (LinkedIn)
Panel 2: Data-Driven Design – Using Analytics to Shape User Experience
Under the moderation of Akanbi Mayowa, this session examined how designers can leverage data and analytics to create more informed, user-centric products. Panelists included:
- Obaro Dennis – Web3 & AI Product Designer, Founder of Dezin
- Rukayat Yaro – Founder, Design with Rooks (LinkedIn)
- Oluwatobi Ojo – Senior Data Associate, Flutterwave
- Pamela Ohaeri – Senior Product Designer & UX Researcher
Panel 3: From MVP to Market Impact – Uniting Design and Digital Marketing as Products Grow
Moderated by Prosper Nwafor, this panel explored the critical intersection of design and marketing in scaling products. Featured speakers:
- Lynda Okoro – Senior Product Designer
- Samuel Irinyemi – Senior Product Designer
- Ebuka Chidube – Growth & Digital Marketing Manager, PiggyVest
- Muhammed Mustapha – Founder, Techmoonshot (LinkedIn)
Panel 4: Building Communities – Design in Healthcare, Finance, Agriculture & Education Across Africa
Olajumoke Awonorin moderated this powerful discussion on design’s role in transforming critical sectors across the continent. The panel featured:
- Ojuolape Olatunji (Tech Baby) – Senior Product Designer, Founder of Hover Africa
- Tina Brown – Brand Designer & Founder, Design and Grow Club
- Tobi Olushola – Brand and Product Designer, Accomplishr USA
- Jane Frances – UI/UX Designer & Founder, Mentorix
Live Design Battle Showcases Creative Talent
A major highlight of ThinkUX 2025 was the live design battle, where talented Design/UX professionals competed in real-time, showcasing their skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. The high-energy competition gave attendees a front-row seat to watch design excellence unfold, offering both entertainment and education as participants tackled real-world design challenges under pressure.
Design Competition Awards Over ₦500,000 in Prizes
The design competition proved to be one of the event’s most exciting segments, where talented designers showcased their skills and creativity. Winners walked away with various cash prizes totaling over ₦500,000, underscoring ThinkUX’s commitment to nurturing and rewarding design talent in Nigeria’s burgeoning tech ecosystem. The substantial prize pool provided emerging designers with both recognition and financial support to continue developing their craft and pursuing excellence in the field.
Recognition Awards Honor Industry Contributors
In a special ceremony that highlighted the spirit of appreciation and community building, various awards were presented to the keynote speakers and panelists in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of design and technology in Nigeria and across Africa.
These awards celebrated the speakers’ dedication to:
- Advancing the design and technology industry in Africa
- Mentoring emerging talent and building the next generation of designers
- Creating communities and platforms that drive innovation and collaboration
- Developing solutions that address real challenges facing African users
- Promoting best practices and raising standards in UX design
- Contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem
The recognition ceremony acknowledged that these leaders have not only excelled in their individual careers but have also invested time, resources, and expertise in lifting others, creating pathways for the next generation of African designers and technologists to thrive. From founding design schools and communities to building innovative products that solve local problems, the honorees represent the best of what’s possible when talent meets purpose.
A Platform for Growth and Connection
ThinkUX 2025 positioned itself as more than just a conference; it’s where Nigeria’s next generation of design and tech leaders come to learn, lead, collaborate, and network.
ThinkUX created unparalleled opportunities for meaningful connections with fellow designers, developers, product managers, entrepreneurs, and tech leaders. The event facilitated both formal networking sessions and organic interactions that often led to collaborations, job opportunities, and lasting professional relationships.
The conference addressed the growing demand for user experience excellence in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy. With Lagos positioned as Africa’s leading tech hub valued at $4.5 billion, events like ThinkUX play a crucial role in developing the skilled workforce needed to drive the continent’s digital transformation.
For professionals looking to advance their careers, ThinkUX offered exposure to hiring companies, mentorship opportunities, and insights into the skills and mindsets needed to thrive in Nigeria’s competitive tech landscape. The event also strengthened Nigeria’s design and tech community by creating space for diverse voices and building bridges between established professionals and emerging talent.
About ThinkUX and the Convener
ThinkUX is Lagos’ premier conference dedicated to user experience design, product development, and the intersection of design and technology. Under the leadership of Olawale Bamidele, an experienced UX designer, mentor, and digital technology innovator known for creating intuitive user experiences and promoting design communities, the event brings together industry leaders, practitioners, students, and enthusiasts to explore how thoughtful design creates better experiences, drives business value, and solves real-world problems.
“We believe that access to knowledge and community shouldn’t be limited by ability to pay,” organizers explain. “By offering free registration, we’re democratizing access to the insights, connections, and opportunities that can transform careers and companies.”
For more information about ThinkUX and future events, visit thinkux.ng or follow them on social media @thinkUX_ng. You can also connect with convener Olawale Bamidele on LinkedIn.
