Building a successful interior design brand can be very tough in Nigeria, but this is not the case for Adeboye Damilola, chief executive officer of TorreToro, an interior decor designing workspaces across Africa.
Aside from Damilola’s passion and love for designs, his inspiration to establish his business stems from the recognition that many workplace environments lacked the energy, identity, and inspiration of the area they operated.
“We noticed a recurring issue in the way commercial spaces were designed—many offices were functional, yes, but lacked energy, identity, and inspiration,” he says.
“They didn’t reflect the soul of the businesses they housed. That observation sparked our desire to do things differently,” he notes.
“TorreToro was born out of a mission to reimagine workspaces across Africa. We specialise in transforming dull, underutilized offices into bold, vibrant environments that spark creativity, embody company values, and drive real productivity,” he adds.
To change the narrative, Damilola established TorreToro in 2020 to help businesses create environments that inspire employees, boosting productivity and making them more engaged with their work.
“Workspace should energise and motivate employees, but instead, poor design can have the opposite effect, draining their energy and enthusiasm. At TorreToro, we step in to bridge that gap,” he says.
“We specialise in transforming dull, underutilised offices into bold, vibrant environments that spark creativity, embody company values, and drive real productivity,” he explains.
Speaking on the edge TorreToro has over other interior and architecture firms, Damilola says commitment to innovation and unique design philosophy sets the company apart.
“We pride our ability to truly understand what our clients need and how each space impacts their business. It’s not just about creating visually appealing environments; it’s about crafting spaces that contribute directly to a company’s bottom line,” he says.
Given the fast-paced nature of commercial interior design, speed and efficiency to excel in the business, he explains that TorreToro prioritises sourcing the majority of their materials locally.
He emphasises that this is made possible because Nigeria is a resource-rich country, and the local market offers a wide range of materials that align with both global standards and their creative vision.
Damilola reveals that the firm which started as a small, tight-knit team of two or three designers has now blossomed into a fully-fledged design team capable of taking on much larger projects.
“Over the years, our client base has expanded significantly, moving beyond FMCG companies to include banks, insurance firms, and organisations in sectors such as sports and hospitality,” he explains.
He stresses that as part of the firm’s long-term goals and expansion plans, they aim to broaden their reach into various sectors across Africa to help businesses thrive.
“We’re particularly focused on collaborating with more businesses, designers, and building developers to contribute to the future of work in Africa.
“As we continue to grow, we are specifically looking to expand our presence across West Africa and other parts of the continent,” he says.
Evaluating Nigeria’s interior industry, Damilola described it as a relatively new field. “It hasn’t been fully explored, this is something that’s only starting to gain traction now,” he notes.
According to the décor expert, the interior décor space in Nigeria is marred by the persistent inflation challenge.
“One of the most significant challenges we’ve faced as a business, and it’s not unique to us, is inflation, particularly when it comes to pricing.”
“In Nigeria, for example, we’ve had instances where a budget of 200 million was projected but ended up costing 220 million or even 230 million.”
“This year, we’ve experienced up to a 22 percent increase in costs due to inflation, which fluctuates year-on-year at around 20 percent.”
Moreover, he explains that the accelerating inflation is impacting his business, particularly when it comes to managing client budgets.
For instance, he says, projects that were budgeted for 200 million last year now require increased investment.
According to him, clients are facing a situation where they feel like they are spending more, but receiving the same value, which is not ideal for either party.
Managing these fluctuations, he says, requires transparency and empathy towards their clients which is how the firm is navigating the murky waters of inflation in Nigeria.
Damilola advises other entrepreneurs to know that talent is not enough. “The truth is, no matter how good you are, if you’re not seen, there’s a limit to how far you can go. Visibility matters,” he says.
