At 37, Bella Disu, slick negotiator and protean industrialist has earned her stripes
In this week’s series of Thriving Women, a weekly pullout by Nigerian NewsDirect featuring women who have defied the odds and made a mark in the society, Bella Disu is our Thriving Woman of the Week.
At 37, Bella Disu is a multipotentialite—a seasoned business executive, art lover, published author, and philanthropist. With 18 years of expertise across various industries, Bella has carved a niche in the business world and beyond.
She is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Abumet Nigeria Limited, a para-construction firm that is a subsidiary of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. She came on board in 2021 and has taken the company’s mandate of providing solutions for installation needs for aluminium and glass products further than anticipated.
One of the biggest deals about the company is that it is currently handling the renovation project of the NNPC Towers in Abuja. As a result, the company is being watched closely, especially because the person in charge has crafted corporate miracles out of nowhere in times past.
With her current corporate might as the Executive Vice-Chairman of Globacom, CEO of Cobblestone Properties & Estates Limited, and Board Director of the Mike Adenuga Center Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Bella is the splitting corporate image of her father. But that is not all she is: she is also a happy wife and proud mother.
Her proficiency in high-stakes contract negotiation and project management is evident in the successful execution of significant projects. Her portfolio includes luxury residencies, Sisi Paris in Lagos, and the esteemed Alliance Française Mike Adenuga Centre, a cultural hub inaugurated in 2018 with French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance.
Bella’s transformative vision permeates her roles on corporate boards, steering organisations towards increased productivity and profitability. She serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Abumet Nigeria Limited, an innovative glass and aluminium manufacturing company, and as a Non-Executive Director at Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the industry leader in Nigeria’s construction sector.
Bella Disu, a globally recognised thought leader, holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and an M.Sc. in Leadership from Northeastern University, Boston. Her affiliations include respected organisations such as Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), the Institute of Directors, Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Her philanthropic spirit finds expression through the Bella Disu Foundation (BDF). As its founder and chair, Bella directs the foundation’s efforts towards improving socio-economic conditions in underserved communities. To achieve its objectives, the foundation collaborates with organisations, including the International Women’s Society, LUTH Children’s Cancer Ward, and the Regalo Hope Foundation.
Bella’s passion for the arts is apparent in her directorship of the Mike Adenuga Centre, where she promotes the fusion of French and Nigerian cultures. The French Government acknowledged her commitment by awarding her the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres honour in 2019. Bella was also featured in the Choiseul 100 Africa ranking in 2022, highlighting her as a future major player in Africa’s economic development.
A patron of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Bella enjoys playing the piano and, occasionally, the saxophone. Her creative pursuits include writing. Her children’s book, Soso and The Kako Leaf, was published in June 2022 and has already received a GOLD Mom’s Choice Award and a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite. Bella Disu remains an active figure shaping narratives and impacting lives.
