Vice-president
Mrs. Bolanle Edwards
Bolanle Edwards is the CEO of MARYEDWARDS SOFTFURNISHINGS, an interior design company she founded in 2005. She holds a BSc in Business Administration and a Master’s in Labour Relations from the University of Lagos, along with a diploma in Interior Design. With 26 years of experience, she also runs a block molding factory and founded the STRAP AND SAFE CHILD FOUNDATION in 2009, impacting over 5 million lives through child safety advocacy. Bolanle has held leadership roles in NIM and NNEW, is active in youth empowerment programs, and serves as a Public Relations Officer at a finishing school.
Bolanle Edwards is the CEO at MARYEDWARDS SOFTFURNISHINGS, an interior design and space management company. She started IN 2005 after working at COMMUNICATION TRENDS NIGERIA LIMITED and SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY(SPDC).
She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration(BSc) and Masters in Labour Relations (MILR) from the prestigious University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. She also holds a diploma in Interior Design from Alison School of Design, UK. Certifications in the following; Project Management, CPR, Women in Digital Business (WIDB), Safeguarding.
In the last 26 years, Bolanle’s experience cuts across the Oil & Gas sector, Hair beauty, fashion industry, and Information Technology space. Her love for designing made her go into full building finishing where she runs a block molding factory. Bola, as she’s fondly called came across some alarming statistics in 2009 on child safety which triggered the birth of STRAP AND SAFE CHILD FOUNDATION, a not-for-profit Organisation where she acts as the convener. She is a diehard child safety advocate and works in tandem with The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Coalition for Road Safety, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information, Coalition for Road Safety of Nigeria (CORSAN), Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Safety Commission.
The NGO has impacted over 5 million lives through different platforms. Bolanle belongs to THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (NIM), Ikeja Chapter where she held the post of assistant secretary and secretary between 2007- 2012 respectively. She is also an active member of the NECAs NETWORK OF ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN (NNEW) under the umbrella of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), where she served as the financial secretary of the NNEW Cooperative in 2013 for five years. She was the Chairman of the Summit 2020 planning committee.
She also served as the head of the Sector for Furniture & Interior Designs between 2018 and 2024 before she became the vice president of the NNEW national. She is involved in youth empowerment programs which makes her a nation-builder. Bolanle is also a Public Relations officer (PRO) at a FINISHING school in Lagos. She sits on the board of Ovilan Consulting – an Agile Enterprise and Nigeria Unites For Road Safety (NUFORSA). Served as the Director of Programmes and events CIO Club and Suite Africa Bolanle is a very passionate marriage counselor. She loves to travel, read inspirational books, watch movies, and spend quality time with family.