Bolanle Austen-Peters

Bolanle Austen-Peters

Bolanle Austen-Peters
Born February 4, 1969
Residence Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality Nigerian
Alma mater International School Ibadan
University of Lagos
London School of Economics
Occupation lawyer, businesswoman
Organization Terra Kulture
Spouse(s) Adegboyega Austen-Peters
Relatives Chief Afe Babalola (father)

Bolanle Austen-Peters is a Nigerian lawyer and businesswoman.[1]

Early life and education

Bolanle was born on 4 February 1969. She is the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.[1][2] She attended the International School Ibadan and the University of Lagos for her undergraduate studies and earned a master's degree in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.[1]

Career

Bolanle worked with her father's law firm before working with the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Switzerland and later moved to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the United Nations Development Program. She founded the Nigerian arts, education and cultural organisation, Terra Kulture in 2003. Terra Kulture is an educational and recreational organisation set up in 2003 to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian Languages, Arts and Culture.[1] Terra Kulture was established because there were few places in Nigeria with the appropriate ambiance, for Nigerians and foreigners alike to learn about Nigeria's rich cultural and linguistic heritage. Today, Terra Kulture, a private sector initiative, is a resounding success recognised as a major cultural hub in Nigeria for expatriates, students, Hollywood and Nollywood stars, artists and members of the diplomatic corps.

In its ten years of existence, Terra Kulture has organized over two hundred exhibitions, ninety plays, sixty book readings and over ten thousand adult and children have attended our Language classes and excursions. Terra Kulture in 2009, established the Terra Kulture MyDrim Auction House, the auction house which has organized seven very successful auctions is one of only two art auction houses in Nigeria.

With the creation of Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions, she raised the bar in the theater industry with the production of SARO the Musical in 2013, a production which enjoyed numerous accolades and reviews from international media houses including the BBC and SKY News and has since produced five additional plays despite the lack of infrastructure to support such. Responding to wonderful reviews from the press and theater experts, in December 2014 and April 2015, BAP productions produced SARO THE MUSICAL 2 at the MUSON Center.

Bolanle Austen-Peters has facilitated, organized, managed and attended numerous workshops and seminars both within and outside the United Nations system on various issues. Prior to that, she had worked as a Lawyer with United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, New York, Ethiopia and Namibia. She returned to Nigeria in 2001 as Consultant to UNDP, Lagos. she also gives lectures on Entrepreneurship and she has won many local and international awards.

She worked as a Consultant to the Ford Foundation Lagos and helped raise millions of dollars for the Museum through Arts and Business Council. She has for the past 10 years successfully managed Terra Kulture, a proudly Nigerian organization which has been in the forefront of the promotion of Nigerian art and culture, developing talents and creating employment in the sector with the employment of over 60 staff and the creation of over 150 additional ancillary jobs on a monthly basis through its theater and arts products.[3][4]

In 2015, she commenced the production of the film 93 Days, scheduled to be released in 2016.[5]

Personal life

She is married to Dr. Adegboyega Austen-Peters, the son of the late Olofin Ijaye of Lagos,[6] with children.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ibukun Awosika (2009). The "Girl" Entrepreneurs. Xulon Press. pp. 47–61. ISBN 9781607915072.
  2. ↑ Demilade Oresanya. "Terra Kulture @10: Making Nigerian Arts, Culture and Lifestyle a priority". CP Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Rita Ohi. "Austen-Peters: Living for the love of art". BusinessDay. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Terra Kulture has organised over 200 exhibitions-Austen-Peters". The Punch. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "93 days: The Ebola story needs to be told – Bolanle Austen-Peters". The Vanguard. August 28, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Bolanle Austen-Peters steps out with hubby". The Punch. Retrieved 23 November 2014.

External links

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