A Nigerian couple based in Dubai, Timilehin and Mayowa Adegoke, are establishing their business, Archgoke Interactive LLC, in the UAE. Both accomplished professionals have chosen to merge their talents to foster their shared vision. The couple integrates Nigeria’s vibrant culture and manages operations across two continents, with their main office in the UAE and subsidiary offices in Abuja and Lagos, serving Nigerian and West African clients.
Timilehin, 36, moved to Dubai in 2015, while Mayowa, 35, followed in 2019, ready to face the Dubai summer. They first encountered each other at a community church in Lagos, Nigeria, and their friendship eventually transformed into a romantic relationship in 2018. Mayowa fondly remembers her proposal at the Burj Khalifa’s Atmosphere and their marriage in 2019, marking the beginning of their life together in Dubai. Now, the couple celebrates five years of marriage and are parents to a four-year-old son.
Timilehin Adegoke, Operations Director at Archgoke Interactive, shared: “In October 2021, during the start of Expo 2020 Dubai, we seized an opportunity with Dubai Tourism to produce media content for the African market, a task perfectly suited to Mayowa’s expertise as a seasoned media professional.” Simultaneously, Timilehin was in discussions with a business consultant to determine the scope and type of business activities, leveraging their individual skills, MBA, passion, and experience.
“We were well-prepared to enter the market with our first significant client on board. Thus, Archgoke Interactive LLC was founded,” he added. Mayowa Adegoke, Creative Director at Archgoke Interactive, credits her mother, Bolanle Ogundele, as her greatest influence in her entrepreneurial path, which began over a decade after her graduation in Mass Communication and a successful stint in TV broadcasting.
“From the age of 13, I actively participated in my mother’s various business ventures, assisting her in market runs, working as her shop assistant during breaks, and promoting her business at university. These experiences laid the groundwork for my entrepreneurial drive,” Mayowa explained. She transitioned from her role at Channels Television in Lagos, the largest TV station in West Africa, to become an International Journalist and Producer in Dubai.
“Moving to Dubai ignited my passion to create and pursue opportunities to build a stronger brand and explore my entrepreneurial capabilities, applying my extensive media experience and skills to our company,” Mayowa stated. The couple’s venture into entrepreneurship was driven by a desire for greater financial control as a family, sparked by challenges in their previous jobs and new business opportunities.
Timilehin, a civil engineer with extensive experience across Africa, the UK, and the UAE, holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the UK’s Institute of Civil Engineers, a Master’s in Energy Engineering, and an MBA in Organisational Behaviour from Heriot-Watt University. His move to Dubai was motivated by the city’s rapid development and its reputation as a hub for ambitious construction projects.
Growing up in a family where both parents were career professionals, Timilehin was influenced by his mother’s sharp business acumen. “As a child, I accompanied her to markets and observed her negotiating prices, which later inspired my first business selling male corporate attire at university. My mother’s business began by shopping and dressing my father in the finest corporate fashion,” Timilehin recounted.
Regarding the importance of mentors in entrepreneurship, Timilehin noted: “My mentors helped me recognize not only my business knowledge but also my natural negotiation skills and the courage to pursue opportunities.” The couple attributes their success to the UAE’s conducive business environment, including diverse business setup options, favorable regulations, and a broad clientele base.
“The competitive UAE market keeps us striving for excellence, and the government’s continuous innovation attracts a steady stream of potential clients. Our goal is to attract these clients with our unique value proposition,” Timilehin explained. For young couples considering entrepreneurship, the Adegoke’s advice is to avoid overthinking and to leverage each other’s strengths and interests, identifying service opportunities in a shared industry.
