( CNN ) Olajumoke Adenowo 's life is one of numbers . She enrolled at the University of Ife at just 14 . Five years later , she had her first degree in architecture , and by 23 she was employed and designing her first building . Three years later , she set up shop solo , and two decades on she is one of Nigeria 's most accomplished architects . Always an overachiever , the ambitious builder -- once described as the `` face of architecture in the Nigeria '' -- has dedicated her illustrious career to reimagining her homeland 's landscape . Involved in the design and construction of over 70 buildings , she has brought institutional facilities , epic 2,500-seat auditoriums , residences , estates and cutting edge corporate offices to life . Adenowo 's hugely successful career is no doubt a reflection of the dreamer 's passion for her craft , and her success has been confirmed by numerous architectural accolades awarded to the 46-year-old . Besides these business-based achievements , her work with women pushing for gender equality -- Adenowo hosts her own radio show mentoring women -- has seen her receive several commendations from the likes of the United Nations Information Center over the years . Here she reveals to CNN how she designs both functional and beautiful structures across the continent , her top tips for success and why she wants to inspire the next generation . Mentorship is vital . Upon graduating at an early age , Adenowo quickly found work at Femi Majekodunmi Associates architectural firm where she impressed her boss -- then the President of the International Union of Architectects -- with her passion and enthusiasm . The work ethic she displayed opened up great opportunities for the rising designer who was soon asked to create the Federal Ministry of Lands in Abuja . `` I was always ready . I would be at the office at 11pm on Sunday when other girls are dancing or something . I think my boss saw my passion and he gave me a chance , '' she says . `` If we had more mentors like that in Africa , I believe the younger generation would blossom faster . '' It 's OK to work things out as you go . At 25 , Adenowo decided to go it alone and start her own company , AD Consulting . It was a big risk to undertake but her reputation as one of Nigeria 's most prominent architects proves that sometimes you have jump into the unknown . `` The office was a little bigger than three chairs . It was myself and a young boy who sat in the corridor but I started anyway because I believe that you do what you can with what you have , where you are . '' Great architecture is n't just a building . Adenowo explains that to build a great building , you have to have an omniscient outlook . `` You have to know history , you have to understand culture , sociology , anthropology . You need to know physics , you have to understand chemistry to a point . You have to understand art and the history of art to be a really good architect , '' she says . `` Good architecture is about the spirit of the age . If you look at a pyramid , it talks about one man 's quest to be immortal ... It 's 4,500 years old and we still see them . We can no longer forget those pharaohs because of architecture . '' Go a step further than 3D . `` My buildings all have a fourth dimension and the fourth dimension is time . Each space I design changes in time . I design lighting schemes in such a way that by night the building is a totally different entity from what it was in the morning . I design buildings in such a way that as you move through the space , you experience something new at every step . '' Passion does n't just come from within . `` The passion comes from my clients . I feed off their energy ... I would do anything for my clients to make sure that their buildings come out the way they should . '' Take ownership and inspire . Despite juggling a prosperous career and a family at home , Adenowo still finds time to mentor women through her weekly radio show . She also founded the Awesome Treasures Foundation in 1999 , which helps mentor women and young girls . `` We believe the greatest need of Africa is leadership , vision . Strong people who are ready to give their all to say , 'this is the way ' , and Awesome Treasures is here to address that need , to raise transformational leaders . '' The sky 's the limit . Adenowo may have achieved great success but that does n't mean she 's resting on her laurels . `` In the next five years , it would be a dream come true if I have the opportunity to design a building that would define Nigeria 's identity . The way you see the Tour d'Eiffel and you think Paris , the Empire State Building and you think New York . ''
Olajumoke Adenowo is one of Nigeria 's leading architects . He was born in Lagos and studied architecture at the University of Ibadan before moving to London where he worked for a number of years as an architect, designing some of London's most prestigious buildings including The Gherkin Here she tells CNN how she made it , why she mentors and her biggest dreams .