British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE has announced the launch of the Yinka Ilori Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to creating permanent, vibrant community spaces focused on play, creativity, and long-term self-sufficiency worldwide.
The foundation’s mission, according to a statement, is rooted in the belief that design can be a powerful tool for social change, a philosophy that has long underpinned Ilori’s celebrated multidisciplinary practice, which spans architecture, furniture and public art.
The global movement will begin with its first flagship playscape scheduled to open in Nigeria in 2026. This site marks Ilori’s return to his ancestral home to co-create a space with local residents.
The Nigerian location will feature modular play structures and be supported by a full year of free cultural and skills-based programming. Workshops will cover areas like music, craft, storytelling, entrepreneurship and fabrication, coupled with training in maintenance to ensure the site’s sustainability and local stewardship.
“Growing up, play gave me freedom to dream… That sense of imagination and joy is something my mother instilled in me, and it’s at the heart of why I launched the Yinka Ilori Foundation,” said Founder, Yinka Ilori MBE. “I want to create spaces that aren’t just for communities, but with them. Spaces that empower, connect, and inspire. We’re starting in Nigeria, but this is just the beginning.”
The launch comes at a pivotal time, with recent research from the University of Exeter highlighting a crucial need: one in three UK children no longer play outdoors after school, despite strong evidence that outdoor play significantly strengthens emotional development and social skills.
The foundation aims to address this gap by transforming Ilori’s iconic, bold aesthetic into functional, inclusive community hubs across the globe, with future sites planned for Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia.
The organisation has secured a high-profile board of trustees and advisors, including Wale Adeyemi, British Fashion Designer; Ellen Port, Founder of EKP Connections; Péjú Oshin, curator and Associate Director at Gagosian and Peter Adjaye, contemporary conceptual sound artist.
Broadcaster, Entrepreneur and Author June Sarpong will take on an ambassador role for the foundation.
The launch is made possible with support from partners including the Idan & Batia Ofer Family Foundation, 528Hz, and Nobu Hotel London Portman Square.
•Featured image: Yinka Ilori/Lewis Khan
