In this interview, Simi Abolarin – the first female KNX tutor in all of Africa and the first KNX tutor in Nigeria – shares her path into KNX, the evolving Nigerian market, and her vision of “Building Africa’s Smart Cities.
KNXtoday: You are the first female KNX tutor in Africa and the first KNX tutor in Nigeria. What led you into the world of building automation? Which professional – and perhaps also personal – influences shaped your decision to pursue a technical career?
SA: My trajectory into building automation was driven by a relentless pursuit of engineering precision, structured logic, and scalable impact. Originally, I served as an
electrical engineering lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun state, Nigeria. While I found fulfillment in academia, I possessed a deep-seated desire to solve complex, real-world infrastructure problems. The pivotal shift occurred through critical strategic discussions with my husband and business partner, Olaife Abolarin. He recognized that my technical capacity as an "A-student" engineer was destined for large-scale industrial execution rather than conventional pathways. At the same time, we identified the massive gap in the African real estate sector for reliable, enterprise-grade smart building controls. That convergence led us to co-found Smartville 7 Automation Ltd, where I stepped in as Co-founder and Head of Operations to engineer world-class automation systems.
KNXtoday: Women in KNX are still a minority. How did you first encounter KNX? And which professional experiences or skills helped you enter the KNX world?
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SA: When we launched Smartville 7, the market was saturated with low-quality wireless, consumer-grade shortcuts that consistently failed under Africa's environmental and power infrastructure demands. I refused to compromise on quality or deploy fragile systems. My academic background in electrical engineering compelled me to look for the most robust, decentralized, and internationally standardized architecture available – which brought me straight to the KNX standard. KNXtoday: How would you describe the KNX market in Nigeria? Which topics are currently most relevant, and which areas have you specialized in? What has changed noticeably in recent years? SA: The Nigerian market is undergoing a massive flight to quality. Historically, developers relied on standalone, proprietary protocols that created fragmented systems. |
Today, the "1% of the 1%" and commercial developers demand unified Building Management Systems (BMS) that combine lighting, HVAC, security, and energy management into a single, unbreakable ecosystem. At Smartville 7, we specialize in heavy-duty, fully integrated KNX architectures and enterprise BMS deployments for ultra-luxury residential estates and iconic commercial projects. In recent years, the market has shifted from viewing smart technology as a luxury add-on to recognizing it as essential critical infrastructure. Clients now recognize that wired, standardized protocols like KNX are the only way to guarantee longevity, privacy, and system reliability.
KNXtoday: Nigeria is a country with great regional and infrastructural diversity. What challenges do you meet when introducing and establishing KNX standards?
SA: The primary challenge has been overcoming the influx of quick-fix wireless products that skew client expectations regarding cost and performance. Power fluctuations and harsh environmental conditions mean that unstable systems fail rapidly, creating initial skepticism toward automation. We overcome this by adhering to what we call the "Standard Way". We educate the market that while wireless shortcuts are cheap upfront, KNX is an investment in permanent infrastructure. Furthermore, because local technical competence in advanced protocols was historically low, we established dedicated training programs to train over 200 engineers across the continent, building the ecosystem required to support KNX standards seamlessly.
KNXtoday: Which KNX project are you personally most proud of – and why?
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SA: In smartville 7, we believe the excellence of yesterday is the mediocrity of today, so we keep improving and dropping new milestones on different projects, however, two landmark projects define our technical legacy: Alexence Villa (Abuja): Widely recognized as one of the most technologically advanced residential projects in West Africa. We engineered a full-scale, complex KNX backbone, beating out major international competitors to execute the vision. Cyberville villa work-plan for Dr. Toye: A massive enterprise Building Management System deployment that represents the absolute pinnacle of automated infrastructure in Africa. It is a turnkey KNX/IOT/ELV project, proving that African engineering firms can design and execute at global standards. |
KNXtoday: Many women in Western countries perceive the African continent as particularly challenging from a professional perspective. How have you experienced this reality within Nigeria’s tech and smart building community? What obstacles did you face along the way – and how did you overcome them?
SA: Operating in Nigeria's tech and construction space requires deep resilience and undeniable competence. Early on, entering male-dominated job sites meant facing initial skepticism from contractors and clients who were unaccustomed to seeing a woman leading complex electrical and control engineering projects. I chose to let technical excellence be my loud answer. By mastering the most versatile protocol in the industry – KNX – and earning certified Tutor credentials, I removed all room
for debate. When your engineering logic works flawlessly and your system outlasts every alternative on the market, respect is not requested; it is commanded.
KNXtoday: What changes would you like to see for young women entering the building technology sector in Nigeria today? And what advice would you give to these young talents?
SA: I want to see a systematic removal of self-imposed and societal glass ceilings. Young women should not confine themselves to administrative roles in tech; they belong in hardware engineering, system design, and software integration. My advice to young female talent is straightforward: Master the difficult path. Do not seek out easy shortcuts or superficial skills. When you dedicate yourself to conquering complex standards like KNX, you build an unshakeable foundation. Focus on competence, maintain laser focus, and remember that when you master the hard way, you eventually own the only way.
KNXtoday: What drives you today – curiosity, responsibility, technical elegance, or social impact?
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SA: It is a fusion of responsibility, technical elegance, and long-term legacy. We operate under a clear mandate: "Building Africa's Smart Cities, one home at a time." I feel a profound responsibility to prove that world-class engineering isn't imported from the West or East – it is built right here in Africa by African engineers. Every system we program is designed with technical elegance to set a benchmark for the next generation. KNXtoday: To conclude, tell us a little about yourself. What do you do when you are not working with KNX – where do you find energy, inspiration, or rest? SA: When I am not designing system architectures or mentoring engineers, my energy is anchored in my family. I find immense joy and mental clarity in precision hobbies like gourmet baking – where chemistry and creativity meet – as well as quiet, reflective time with my husband, Olaife, and our sons. Recharging with my family provides the spiritual and emotional grounding needed to lead a high-growth tech enterprise. |
KNXtoday: Is there anything you would like to add to this interview for Women in KNX?
SA: To the global KNX community: Africa is not just a consumer market for smart technology; we are a hub of innovation, execution, and elite technical talent. Smartville 7 is actively expanding its footprint, setting up state-of-the-art Experience Centers, and training the next generation of engineers to scale standard-compliant building automation across the continent. The future of smart cities is global, and Africa is playing a leading role.
KNXtoday: How can people get in touch with you?
SA: You can connect with us, for partnership, product influencing, projects execution and training through our correspondence below:
Email
For consultations, global partnerships, and KNX certification programs.
WhatsApp +234 8179 418 675
www.smartville7.com
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