36 Things You Thought You Knew About Bella Disu

Belinda Ajoke Olubunmi Disu as we all know, is one of the daughters of Otunba (Dr) Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr, (GCON)  – one of the richest men in the world  With his fingers in telecommunications  , Oil and Gas, Banking and real estate.
The apple they say, does not fall far from the tree and Bella is one of such as she is also known to have her well manicured fingers in quite a few pies just like Daddy as she has showed the traits of a daughter eager to tread in her father’s footsteps.
A wife,mother of 2 and astute career woman, It is very easy for anyone to dismiss Bella as the child from such a privileged background  who had it very easy and started building an exceptional career very early in life. But she is unlike your regular .

Overtime, she has been classified as a precocious young girl who turned out to be an extraordinary young woman with a fecundity of imaginations. and NO! She does not operate in the shadow of her father – rather , she is in the mould of her father. She possesses attributes that makes her father an indomitable force in the world.

Recently,  she turned 36 it is quite arduous for us and everyone acquainted with her prodigious abilities, not to fawn over her remarkable accomplishments and stroke of genius at an age when most young people grope for their bearing, especially when they find a silver spoon in their mouth. Bella has been a thoroughbred professional who has a pride of place on the global stage.

A lot of people marvel at her propensity as a woman of many parts, giving life to the words-  Super Woman. She is benevolent and equable, even in her steely resolve, which gets jobs done.

In this edition,  we try to condense all her giant strides into 36.  Here are a few facts about her

PERSONALITY
-She is classified an ISFJ. According to Myers-Briggs personality indicator, ISFJs are quiet kind and highly dependable individuals. They are also loyal, practical, and stable. They value security and traditions. They also have a well-developed sense of space, function and aesthetic appeal. They are also known to possess exceptional memory and thrive with learning styles that involve practical application. Furthermore, they are nurturers with listening ears for advice and issues. ISFJs often get over burdened, avoid conflict and difficult to say no to a request for assistance.

CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS

She started her career at the age of 18.

Bella is the Vice Chairman of Globacom Limited. One of the most experienced people in Africa’s telecommunications landscape today.

Bella has been decorated with numerous awards and one of the most remarkable is French eminent national honuors, Chevaliers dans L’odre des Arts et des Lettres. She is one of the youngest recipients of that award in the world. It was conferred upon her by President Emmanuel Macron on behalf of the French government for her contributions to the promotion of arts and culture, including through the Alliance Française Project at the Mike Adenuga Alliance Française Centre.

-She has featured in African CEO Forum

– As a writer. Bella has written a book for children.

– She is the Chief Executive Officer of Cobblestone Properties & Estate Limited, where she designing and constructed Sisi Paris residential apartment in Lagos.

– She sits on the board of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as a director. Where s<span;>he serves on the board audit and remuneration committees and on the subcommittees for communications strategies, training and development.

-She is a director at Abumet Plc, Nigeria’s leading glass and aluminum manufacturing company.

– She is the founder and director of the Bella Disu foundation. A nonprofit organization, the foundation helps less privileged children, especially in the area of education and acquisition of skills.

– She is a powerful public and motivational speaker. <span;>She lets her audience into her secrets with empathy and self-depreciation, ensuring that listeners come out very inspired.

-She is a champion of women. As she keeps tabs of all the statistics and endeavors in helping to push women issues to the forefront and campaigns for greater representations in the scheme of things.

LIFESTYLE
-A perfectionist like her dad, she has been inducted into Nigeria Institute of Directors

-She loves life and loves God more as she is termed a very religious person.

-She loves to read . Her collection of books is quite phenomenal. She has on her book shelf some of the most consequential literature in the world. She is a fan of a lot of award winning authors and it cuts across different genres.

– She is a very strong dancer.

-One of her best business literature is Essentials of Strategic Management by Charles Hill and Gareth Jones. She calls it her business bible. She does not take prisoners when it comes to her quest for knowledge and personal improvement.

– She has a great sense of humour.

-She named one of her biggest real estate projects – Sisi Paris , after her lovely daughter, Paris.

-Bella is multilingual and speaks several languages to various degrees. With Igbo and French as some of them.

-She plays the keyboard . She also plays the saxophone

-She  performs with instruments at family parties.

-A lover of arts, Bella has supported numerous laudable art projects in Nigeria.

– She is a de facto matron of the Nigerian entertainment industry

– Her love and support of Nigerian fashion brands like Lisa Folawiyo, Tiffany Amber, Fruche

-She modelled at the runway fashion show of a breast cancer awareness event – The Pink Ball.

-She loves baking. Apart from a mastery of some Nigerian delicacies, baking is one of her hubbies and she loves making cinnamon rolls. Call her for some cupcakes, maybe.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Disu holds a Bachelors degree in International Relations from the University of Massachusetts. She also holds a Master in Science Degree from the North Eastern University.

HER STRUGGLES

– Starting a career so early in life, the gender and age bias she faced, the assumption that she had an easy ride because she was working in a company founded by her father (Dr. Mike Adenuga). The truth was the exact opposite – As he pushed her and gave her rigorous tutelage.

-Bella used to struggle with her weight as she weighed about 125 kg. She became determined to shed the weight rapidly.

-Bella does not like to be photographed. She has never hidden this. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately for her, a gold fish has no hiding place.This is even more difficult as she gets more and more engaged in multiple local and international projects and engagements. Hence, she is learning to be photographed, ever so reluctantly.

-She learnt the French language in only a few months, taking only 30 minutes classes, six times in a week in-between heavy schedules.

PHILOSOPHY

-Have a strong support network. Leaders are not independent actors”.You are shaped by your constituents”

– …..”Be Discipline & Embrace your individuality….

– …”using quota systems to get women in top positions, is one of the ways to go if women must advance, …. if a woman gets on a board due to a quota system, it means she has the credentials to back up that appointment…..”

-“women ,keep climbing the career ladder. Climb it anxious. Climb it confidently. But just keep climbing. And when you get to the top, because you will – give a helping hand to the women coming behind you – this is how we grow.