Bella Disu
Belinda "Bella" Ajoke Olubunmi Disu (née Adenuga, born 29 May 1986) is a Nigerian businesswoman.[1] She is the executive vice chairman of Globacom,[2] and a non-executive director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc[3][4]
Bella Disu | |
---|---|
Ajoke Olubunmi | |
Born | Belinda Ajoke Olubunmi Adenuga May 29, 1986 |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Education | Northeastern University University of Massachusetts |
Occupation | Executive Vice Chairman at Globacom |
Years active | 2019 - present |
Employer | Globacom |
Spouse(s) | Jameel Disu |
Parent(s) |
|
Website | bella-disu |
Early life and education
Bella was born on 29 May 1986 to Emelia Adefolake Marquis, a Nigerian entrepreneur and Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Globacom.[5] 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.[6]
She obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, US and an M.Sc in Leadership from Northeastern University, Boston.[3][7]
Career
In 2004, Bella joined Globacom Ltd, a multinational telecommunications company operating in Ghana and Nigeria, and is now the group executive director.[7]
In 2011, she took on an additional role of group executive director of Cobblestone Properties and Estates Limited to become CEO in 2015.
She is a non-executive director of a Nigerian construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc,[8][9] and a director at Abumet Plc, a glass and aluminium manufacturing company, also in Nigeria.[3]
In January 2019, she assumed the role of executive vice chairman of Globacom after joining the firm in 2004.[7][10] She attended the Africa CEO Forum that year, where she had a private meeting with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.[11][12] She was also a keynote speaker at the Women in Business Initiative of the Africa CEO Forum.[13][14][15] and 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.[5][16] At the summit, she announced a deal with Nokia Alcatel-Lucent, to supply, install, and integrate a new Sure Pay Intelligent Network platform.[17][18]
On the 31st of October 2019, as Executive Director of Cobblestone properties, she unveiled a 10-storey luxury apartments at Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos State which is called 'Sisi Paris'.[19]
Bella is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Directors[9] and the Nigerian Institute of Management.[3]
Personal life
In April 2010, she married Jameel Disu,[7] a venture capitalist, and they have two children.[20]
Philanthropy
Disu is the founder and president of Bella Disu Foundation, a nonprofit organization which says it aims to help less privileged children by providing education and employment skills.[21]
She is a promoter of the French language and culture through the Alliance Française Project at the Mike Adenuga Alliance Française Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos State.[22][23]
She is listed as a "sustainer" of music by the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Wall of Fame for her contributions in encouraging a better environment for musical learning.[24]
Bella Disu, representing the Mike Adenuga Foundation (MAF), donated N1.5 billion to Federal Government and Lagos State government to support Nigeria’s fight against the global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).[25]
Awards and recognition
Bella was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in December 2019, for her contributions on preservation of arts and culture especially her coordination of the construction of the Alliance Francaise Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.[26][27][28]
References
- Editor. "Women In Business-Bella Disu". Business Day. Retrieved 12 August 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "Executive Vice-Chairman, Globacom; Mrs. Bella Disu". Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- Uriri, Francesca (16 March 2019). "Leading Ladies Africa Nigeria's 100 most inspiring women in 2019". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- "Bella DISU". www.theafricaceoforum.com (in French). Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- Akinwale, Funsho (9 March 2019). "Bella Adenuga Disu, others bag IoD certification". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- Tribune Online (12 April 2019). "Bella Disu: The Midas at Globacom". Nigerian Tribune. Tribune Business. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- Editor (7 October 2018). "A Daughter in a Million: The Amazing Exploits of Belinda Disu in Business". This Day Live. Retrieved 26 June 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Ojekunle, Aderemi (20 July 2018). "Meet the daughters of 6 Nigerian billionaires and what they do". Pulse. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- Onwuegbuchi, Chike (5 March 2019). "NEWSGlobacom's EVC, Bella Disu, Joins Others for Institute of Directors Certification". Nigeria Communications Week. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- "Adenuga's daughter assumes number 2 role at Globacom". Technology Times. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- 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.
- "Rwanda's President Kagame, Glo's Bella Disu Seek Collaboration for Africa's Regional Integration". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- 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.
- 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.
- Editor (31 March 2019). "Super Woman…When Bella Adenuga Stormed Kigali In A Grand Style". This Day Live. Retrieved 27 June 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Ricketts, Olushola (27 January 2019). "Bella Adenuga steps into father's shoes Published". Punch. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- Anonymous (9 March 2019). "Billionaire's daughter, Bella Disu, creating own world". Sun News. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- 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.
- Iroegbu-Chikezie, Okwy (4 November 2019). "Cobblestone redefines luxury with Sisi Paris". The Nation. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- Encomium (19 November 2014). "Inside Bella Adenuga, Jameel Disu's Engagement". Encomium Nigeria. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- "Bella Disu". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- Press Release (5 July 2018). "Macron confers "Commander of the Legion of Honour" on Adenuga". Premium Times. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- Editor (12 May 2019). "Mike Adenuga Centre: Another Promise Kept!". This Day Live. Retrieved 26 June 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "Our Sponsors". Musical Society of Nigeria. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- "Mike Adenuga donates N1.5bn to COVID-19 funds". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- 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.
- Anonymous (17 December 2019). "Bella Disu bags French eminent national honour". Pulse. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- Editor (17 December 2019). "France Honours Bella Disu with Prestigious National Honour". This Day. Retrieved 17 December 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)