· Says ‘I have fostered trust, quality standards’

Olushola Farinloye is a seasoned entertainment management person with several years curating memorable entertainment experiences in Nigeria’s megacity, Lagos. As the Chief Operating Officer of Quilox, he shares his journey in the hospitality and entertainment industry with our correspondent.

Can we meet you and know more about the work you do at Quilox?

My name is Olushola Farinloye, and I currently serve as the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Vibe Tribe Limited, CEO of Stopover Restaurant/Lounge and Chief Operating Officer at Quilox, one of Africa’s most recognized luxury nightlife brands. My role revolves around operations, brand integrity, and ensuring that the overall experience at Quilox meets the highest global standards. I was born to Mr Michael and Beatrice Farinloye on November 25, 1975, to Osun State parents resident in Surulere, Lagos. They were Christians and respectable members of the church, so they named me Elijah at birth, many of my associates in the media, culture and entertainment circle have since dropped the name for Sola or Olushola. I spent most of my formative years in Lagos, and then studied Marketing at LASU. So you can say I am a Lagosian by birth because I was born in Surulere.

How did you get into entertainment? Was it something you have always wanted to do or was it a chance thing?

Interestingly, my journey into entertainment was not something I planned from the beginning. Like many people, I started out exploring opportunities in business and operations, but over time I discovered that the entertainment industry is one of the most dynamic and creative spaces to build something meaningful. Entertainment brings together culture, music, hospitality, and business strategy. Once I got exposed to that environment, I realized it was a space where I could apply both leadership and innovation. So while it may have started as an opportunity, it eventually became a passion because of the impact you can create when people come together to enjoy experiences that stay with them long after the night ends. I started working at The Grotto, I later went to Luxe Night Club, before joining Quilox. From Grotto to Luxe Night club, I’ve always been passionate about culture, lifestyle, and the power of experiences. The entertainment industry sits at the intersection of creativity, business, and human connection, and that’s something that deeply resonated with me. Being part of a space where you can influence how people celebrate, socialize, and create memories is something special. From the music to the atmosphere to the people you meet, every night tells a different story. That dynamic nature of the industry is what drew me in and continues to keep me inspired, it’s always been destined. In the nightlife business, every detail matters, from service delivery and guest experience to compliance and product quality. I work with our team to ensure that everything that happens within the Quilox ecosystem reflects professionalism, authenticity, and premium hospitality.

For us, Quilox is not just a nightclub, it is the institution of nightlife, a lifestyle and entertainment brand that represents luxury, culture, and world class nightlife in Nigeria.

How long have you been in entertainment? Have you previously worked on any other projects before Quilox?

I have been involved in the entertainment and hospitality space for over 20 years, gaining experience in operational management, brand positioning, and customer experience. Before and alongside Quilox, I’ve been involved in different projects that helped me understand how the entertainment industry works, from logistics to service delivery and strategic partnerships. These experiences helped shape the perspective I bring into Quilox today, where the focus is not just running a nightclub but continuously improving the entire nightlife experience for our guests.

We are curious. How did your Quilox journey start?

My journey with Quilox actually goes back to the very beginning of the brand. I have been part of the story from day one, even before Quilox fully evolved into the iconic brand people know today. At the time, the vision started with Lux, which later transformed into what is now Quilox. I had the privilege of working closely with our Chairman, Hon. Shina Peller from the early stages, and I witnessed firsthand how the idea developed into one of the most recognized nightlife brands in Nigeria and Africa. Being there from the inception gave me a deep understanding of the brand’s philosophy, excellence, luxury, and unforgettable experiences. Over the years, I’ve grown with the brand, helping shape its operations, culture, and the standards that make Quilox what it is today. So for me, Quilox is not just a place I work; it’s a brand I’ve seen grow from an idea into a legacy.

Was there any particular thing that made you decide that “I will like to work here” when Quilox came calling? What is the thing that you are most proud of having achieved at Quilox?

What stood out immediately was the vision behind the brand. Quilox was never designed to be just another club; it was built to redefine nightlife in Nigeria and compete with the best venues around the world. The opportunity to contribute to that vision, building a brand that represents excellence, culture, and unforgettable experiences was something I found very compelling. Working with visionary leadership and a passionate team made the decision even easier.

What is the state of QNI modules at the moment? Have you been able to get backing for them by the appropriate government regulatory bodies?

One of the things I am most proud of is helping reinforce trust, authenticity, and quality standards within the Quilox brand. For example, we have implemented strict processes to ensure that every drink served at Quilox is authentic and sourced directly from approved manufacturers rather than open markets. This commitment led to collaborations with regulatory bodies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, promoting industry standards and combating counterfeit drinks in nightlife venues. Beyond that, I’m proud of the role our team plays in keeping Quilox at the forefront of nightlife culture in Nigeria, creating memorable experiences for thousands of guests every year. Our courses are currently private certification-based, but we have long term goals of accreditation in mind, because we want QNI to present a certification that will translate anywhere in the world and so I can assure you that we are in discussions with the appropriate bodies.

Now we know that different generations have different tastes in entertainment, and there is nowhere where that is more visible than in Nightlife. So how do you attract Gen Zs with their different taste in entertainment without alienating older VIPs?

Through carefully curated and segmented programming. In this nightlife business, you constantly have to think on your feet and ensure that you don’t lose any of your demographics. So for example we have different curated experiences for different nights. Another way that we maintain our clientele is through our tightly controlled branding tone. So, for instance if you look at what we are doing with MAGIC ROOM, you will understand the reason we have to do it that way.

Let’s talk about revenue collection. Obviously many things have changed between Season 1 and now. And one of them is new modes of payments such as cryptocurrencies. How have these new modes of payment affected your revenue generation and spending patterns?

Of course, in the entertainment business, you have to keep up with the trends especially as far as revenue generation is concerned. So we have adjusted our operations to fit new payment platforms, within the boundaries of financial propriety of course, and we have found that digital payment trends have increased transaction speed, but largely nothing much has changed. It is Traditional payment methods that remain dominant.

Let’s talk about security. We know that because of the founder’s personality, and the reputation of the brand itself, you will have some clients who would not want their data, whether their history, or their financial information public. How do you secure your VIP data?

Of course, we know that in the business we are in, trust is an essential commodity. Even beyond the implications of losing certain clients due to lack of trust on our financial bottom line, these are people who have the capacity to hurt us as a brand if they feel that we have exposed them to harm, so we take security seriously through encrypted storage systems, limited access protocols, and strict confidentiality policies.

Let’s talk about Q Studio. What ways are you going to ensure that IP laws protect the venture?

The good thing about it is that there are already standard Nigerian copyright laws and licensing agreements that govern content ownership. We will just ensure that we keep to those laws instead of reinventing the wheel

Who owns performance rights on all the artists and creators there?

We already have agreements in place in that regard. As with any other creative venture, ownership depends on contractual agreements with artists and their management teams prior to performance.

Now, let’s go back to the main brand in the venture. How do you audit the bar to stop internal theft?

As I may have said in one of my interviews with another person, we take our inventory reconciliation systems, bottle tracking, POS integration, and management oversight seriously. We know that our business is built on trust, and the main reason we have lasted this long is because we don’t joke with our standards.

What are the new safety upgrades to expect in Season 13?

This new season we can guarantee our club attendees’ emergency exit recalibration, crowd flow redesign. We take fire safety reinforcement seriously and we are not compromising on that. We have also upped our medical response readiness. All in all, we are as ready as can be.

There was a recent concern for LASEPA compliance. How did it go?

We are up to date on our compliance with LASEPA policy through continuous monitoring and acoustic control engineering. I can say that we are actually one of the most compliant entertainment venues in this regard.

You have talked about standards elsewhere in this interview. Do those standards extend to the brand’s medical emergency protocol?

Yet it certainly does. We have an onsite first response team, as part of our compliance with government regulations, the team is equipped with resources to help with Immediate stabilization, hospital transfer coordination and Incident documentation. Our name is dear to us, as much as the life and safety of our clientele