Prince Kamari strengthens MDX-Nigeria bonds with visit to TIME-CUBE Technology Innovation Incubator

Founder of the UK Africa Trade Expo and economic advisor to the Ooni of Ife, Prince Kamari Ademiluyi, visited Middlesex University before Christmas

Prince Kamari toured the TIME-CUBE (technology, innovation, management & entrepreneurship) incubator, hearing from academics how it paves the way towards technological innovation, and gave an inspiring address to Computer Science students. His visit, at the invitation of Professor of Information Systems and Business Computing George Dafoulas, was one of his first engagements after being appointed international economic adviser to Yoruba ruler and spiritual leader the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

In this role, the Prince supports cross-border investment initiatives, mobilises capital for high-impact sectors, and fosters relationships with governments, investors and businesses, with an emphasis on championing youth and women-led economic empowerment, and sustainable development.

“My mission is simple but enormous - to build bridges of culture, investment and opportunity between Africa and the rest of the world,” Prince Kamari told students. “We often hear ‘Africa Rising’ - I believe that phrase is outdated now. Africa is arriving, with speed, creativity, hunger and demographic power."

Prince Kamari advised students to be courageous and ambitious about seizing opportunities created by digital technologies and AI.

“The world you live in is now your oyster. You're studying at a time when AI is the new electricity, data is the new currency...Your opportunity is not limited to your passport or your postcode."

Prince Kamari Ademiluyi

He gave three pieces of advice to students for career success: to build strong relationships, before asking anything of contacts; to think “in decades, not days - every business success is built slowly, slowly… and then all of a sudden”; and to offer diligent service, “deliver consistently, always turn up on time!”

At the end of his talk, Prince Kamari and his strategic consultant Ms Esra Powell fielded several rounds of questions, before being presented with a certificate of appreciation from the university. They then returned to the TIME-CUBE for one-to-one sessions with students, who demonstrated their IT project management portfolios and innovative ideas for products and services they plan to develop using the TIME-CUBE facilities. 

Following the visit, Prince Kamari expressed an interest in key UK Africa Trade Expo stakeholders, as well as a representation from Ooni of Ile-Ife officials, to embark on knowledge exchange with Middlesex. The next steps will likely lead to stronger ties between the University and Osun State, Nigeria, along with current work being planned with Katsina and Bauchi states in northern Nigeria. Tonye Khama, co-founder of global IT services provider Enrichgeo Tech Solutions UK has been a key collaborator in establishing these initiatives through his extensive network, working closely with Professor Dafoulas and the TIME-CUBE team.

Describing the importance of this work for Middlesex students and graduates, Professor Dafoulas says: “Our top-up programmes include international students from three continents and numerous countries. We teach hundreds of Nigerian students in the latest technologies every year, who become the nation’s human capital, paving the future of that great country.

"Tonye and I have put together a plan enabling TIME-CUBE to transfer knowledge across different sectors. Prince Kamari’s role is critical in equipping Nigeria’s talented business people in fields such as Business Intelligence, AI, FinTech and AgroTech."

The UK Africa Trade Expo (UKATE), which has been held annually since 2023, is a burgeoning ecosystem connecting African businesses and projects with global investors, offering access to investment partnerships and bespoke advice. The 2025 Expo showcased UK-Africa space sector investment, and funding and opportunities for African agricultural businesses.

Prince Kamari is also co-founder of Africa Fashion Week London, which supports African and diaspora designers and has embarked on innovative collaborations with Disney, Meta and the British Council. He is a regular speaker at industry summits, investor forums and private roundtables.

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