Nike Davies Okundaye

Textile Designer and Artist, Nike Okundaye is the Owner/Curator of the Nike Art Galleries at Lagos, Osogbo, Ogidi-Ijumu, and Abuja. In 1996, Nike established a textile (Aso-Oke) weaving center at Ogidi-Ijumu near Kabba in Kogi State for the women of the village, employing and empowering more than 200 women in the weaving center. In June 2002, Nike established an Art and Culture research center at Piwoyi village, FCT Abuja with an art gallery and a textile museum, the first of its kind in Nigeria which will provide a functional platform for research into Nigerian traditional textile industry in the Federal Capital Territory area of Abuja.

Nike stopped schooling at the primary 6 school level at her village at Ogidi-Ijumu in Kogi State of Nigeria. However, Nike went ahead to teach herself English at home. She never went to school to study art which had brought her to the global spotlight. Vocational training in art was passed down to her by her great grandmother, late madam Ibikunle who was an “Adire” textile maker and a dyer of fabric during her days in the village of Ogidi-Ijumu, Nike’s birthplace. Watching her great grandmother in the art of “Adire” textile processing and helping her out in “Adire” making, Nike walked up the line to become an expert in “Adire” textile making, dyeing, weaving, painting, and embroidery.

Nike steadily built upon what her great grandmother taught her and went ahead to develop her own style and technique in textile design and painting, and how to effectively present them for exhibitions. Nike is a multi-talented person who was able to use her natural given ability to assist and help many less-privileged people.

Directory Details:

Name: Nike Davies Okundaye
Category: Textile Designer
Country: Nigeria
Website: www.nikeart.com