2,030 Abibisika (Black Gold) Points

Rank: Unranked Newbie

Pictured below is Olabanke Subair (Nee Banjo) and while most people would see garbage/rubbish, Olabanke saw art. Olabanke is a graduate and is now Founder and Creative Director of Cyrus45, which is a furniture design studio factory which focuses on not only recycling but also produces bespoke and ultra modern furniture and products for the art savvy Nigerian. She also works as a Digital Strategist and Content Writer at an advertising Agency in Lagos whilst contributing whenever she can to the reduction of environmental pollution, facilitating a greener future for the next generation.

“I became inspired to start using tyres to make bespoke furniture sometime in 2016. I have always been a lover of the Arts and have dabbled in several art related handiwork like bead making, bag making and greeting cards making to mention a few. However, in May 2016, while living with my elder sister in Lagos, I came across a pile of about 20 used tyres in her compound. Her neighbours intended to dispose of them because they had been lying fallow for almost 2 years.

But being a lover of revamping old items, I asked them to give me the tyres. The initial idea that popped in my head was to make a coffee table, so I did the necessary research on recycling and reusing of old tyres. Then made a coffee table for myself and when I saw the response from people, I came to the conclusion that this could be a way to reduce environmental pollution while also being a profitable business venture.”