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Bella Disu

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Belinda "Bella" Ajoke Olubunmi Disu (née Adenuga, born May 29, 1986) is a Nigerian business executive,[2] arts enthusiast, published author, and philanthropist.

Belinda Olubunmi Disu
Ajoke
Born
Belinda Ajoke Olubunmi Adenuga

(1986-05-29) 29 May 1986 (age 38)
NationalityNigerian
Other namesBella
Education
OccupationBusiness Executive
Years active2004–present
SpouseJameel Disu
Parents
Websitebella-disu.com

Early life and education

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Bella was born on 29 May 1986 to Emelia Adefolake Marquis, a Nigerian entrepreneur, and Mike Adenuga,the chairman of Globacom.[3] She was educated in Lagos, first at Corona School, Victoria Island and then at Queen's College for her secondary education. In 1998, she left Queen's College for the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, where she graduated in 2000.[4]

A global thought leader renowned for her leadership, corporate governance, and business innovation expertise, Disu holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and an M.Sc. in Leadership from Northeastern University, Boston.[5][6]

Career

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In 2004, Bella Disu joined Globacom and has since ascended to Executive Vice Chairman,[6] offering strategic leadership to this prominent telecommunications company in Nigeria. The year she assumed the role, she attended the Africa CEO Forum, where she had a private meeting with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.[7][8] She was also a keynote speaker for the Women in Business Initiative of the Africa CEO Forum.[9][10][11] She joined 149 other global business leaders like Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia and Tony Elumelu at the 2019 Choose France International Business Summit held at the Chateau de Versailles in France.[3][12] At the summit, she announced a deal with Nokia Alcatel-Lucent to supply, install, and integrate a new Sure Pay Intelligent Network platform.[13][14]

She is also the CEO of Cobblestone Properties and Estates Limited, a leading property development company with a robust portfolio of residential and commercial properties in Nigeria. With her extensive experience in high-value contract negotiation and project management, Disu has successfully constituted and led notable projects. Her portfolio includes the development of luxury residences, Sisi Paris, Lagos, Ile Oja Shopping Malls, and the Alliance Française Mike Adenuga Centre, commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron on July 4, 2018, in Lagos, Nigeria.

Disu is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Abumet Nigeria Limited,[15][5] a glass and aluminum manufacturing company. She is also a Non-Executive Director on the board of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc,[16][17] Nigeria’s apex construction company. She brings her enthusiasm for transformation on both boards to drive organizational productivity and profitability. She serves on the Board Audit and Remuneration Committees at Julius Berger and the Shareholders Advisory Council.

She is an associate of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), and a member of the prestigious Institute of Directors,[17] Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.[5]

In 2024, Bella launched the SheGlows Program to nurture female leaders at Globacom and create a supportive ecosystem where women thrive in their careers.

Personal life

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In April 2010, she married Jameel Disu,[6] a venture capitalist, and they have three children.[18]

Philanthropy

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Disu is the founder and chairperson of the Bella Disu Foundation(BDF), a nonprofit organization aiming to improve vulnerable communities' socio-economic outcomes. BDF contributes to various programs, including education, health, disaster relief, and more. The foundation has collaborated with organisations such as the International Women’s Society, LUTH Children’s Cancer Ward, Lagos Food Bank, and Irede Foundation.

She is an avid sponsor of the arts and, in this capacity, a director of the Mike Adenuga Centre.[19][20] She actively promotes French and Nigerian cultures through the Centre’s partnership with Alliance Française. She is listed as a "benefactor" of music by the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Wall of Fame for her contributions to encouraging a better environment for musical learning.[21]

Bella Disu, representing the Mike Adenuga Foundation (MAF), donated N1.5 billion to the Federal and Lagos State governments to support Nigeria's fight against the global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).[22]

Awards and recognition

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In 2019, the French Government awarded Bella the prestigious Chevalier dans ‘l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of her efforts in promoting French culture. She is the youngest-ever recipient.[23][24][25]

For three consecutive years, Bella Disu has been distinguished as one of the select women whose significant contributions across various sectors, as both a business leader and philanthropist, have been recognized and honoured by Governor Sanwo-Olu under the Lagos State #Eko100Women initiative.

In addition, her role as a dynamic leader in Africa's economic landscape was further highlighted when she was selected for the Choiseul 100 Africa ranking. This recognition, both in 2022 and again in 2023, underscores her as a key figure poised to play a major role in the continent's economic development.

Her desire to see the return of the well-illustrated and richly narrated folktales she read as a child led her to write Soso and The Kako Leaf, a book for children aged 6-12. The book, which reflects Nigerian culture and characters, was published on June 19, 2022, and since then, it has received a GOLD Mom’s Choice Award and a 5-star review from Readers Favorite.

References

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  1. ^ Izuchukwu Ojibe (May 11, 2024). "Who is Bella Disu? Her Husband, Career, and Biography". Paper Nigeria. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Women In Business-Bella Disu". Business Day. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b Akinwale, Funsho (9 March 2019). "Bella Adenuga Disu, others bag IoD certification". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  4. ^ Tribune Online (12 April 2019). "Bella Disu: The Midas at Globacom". Nigerian Tribune. Tribune Business. Retrieved 27 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b c Uriri, Francesca (16 March 2019). "Leading Ladies Africa Nigeria's 100 most inspiring women in 2019". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "A Daughter in a Million: The Amazing Exploits of Belinda Disu in Business". This Day Live. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  7. ^ Press Release (26 March 2019). "Africa CEO Forum - Rwanda's Kagame, Nigeria's Disu Call for Collaboration On Digitalization of Africa". All Africa. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Rwanda's President Kagame, Glo's Bella Disu Seek Collaboration for Africa's Regional Integration". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. ^ BellaNaija (28 March 2019). "3 Things Bella Disu shared at the Women in Business Initiative at Africa CEO Forum". Bella Naija. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  10. ^ Ojekunle, Aderemi (26 March 2019). "Women In Corporate Boards: Shattering the glass ceiling of African companies". Business Insider by Pulse. Pulse. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Super Woman…When Bella Adenuga Stormed Kigali In A Grand Style". This Day Live. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  12. ^ Ricketts, Olushola (27 January 2019). "Bella Adenuga steps into father's shoes Published". Punch. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  13. ^ Anonymous (9 March 2019). "Billionaire's daughter, Bella Disu, creating own world". Sun News. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  14. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong (22 January 2018). "Nigerian Business Leaders Aliko Dangote, Bella Disu, Jim Ovia Attend Choose France Summit". Forbes Africa. Forbes. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  15. ^ "Abumet Nigeria Appoints Belinda Ajoke Disu Chairman". Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  16. ^ Ojekunle, Aderemi (20 July 2018). "Meet the daughters of 6 Nigerian billionaires and what they do". Pulse. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  17. ^ a b Onwuegbuchi, Chike (5 March 2019). "NEWSGlobacom's EVC, Bella Disu, Joins Others for Institute of Directors Certification". Nigeria Communications Week. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  18. ^ Encomium (19 November 2014). "Inside Bella Adenuga, Jameel Disu's Engagement". Encomium Nigeria. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  19. ^ Press Release (5 July 2018). "Macron confers "Commander of the Legion of Honour" on Adenuga". Premium Times. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Mike Adenuga Centre: Another Promise Kept!". This Day Live. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Our Sponsors". Musical Society of Nigeria. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Mike Adenuga donates N1.5bn to COVID-19 funds". The Guardian. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  23. ^ Omotayo, Joseph (17 December 2019). "Mike Adenuga's daughter gets int'l honour as French govt gives her prestigious award". Legit. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  24. ^ Anonymous (17 December 2019). "Bella Disu bags French eminent national honour". Pulse. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  25. ^ "France Honours Bella Disu with Prestigious National Honour". This Day. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
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