“Managing is the efficiency; leadership is uplifting, seeing the future, and bringing people along with you.”
Biola Alabi is an Africa Media Expert, Anchor, Filmmaker, and Investor. Biola has over 25 years of local and global media experience.
She is the CEO and Founder of the Biola Alabi Media (BAM), a content creation and consulting company based in Lagos, Nigeria working across the world in broadcast, telecommunications, and digital industries. She is also a Non- Executive Director of Unilever Nigeria and Monty Mobile.
Biola Alabi, an ambassador of Africa through BAM tells African stories to the world. BAM’s first TV show, Bukas and Joints has been well received and continues to make giant strides. Going further, BAM made a film debut production with Banana Island Ghost (2017) and subsequently, Lara and the beat (2018) with other soon-to-be-released movies in the pipeline.
Biola Alabi held the high-profile position of Managing Director for M-Net Africa for over five exceedingly successful years. M-Net Africa is part of the well-known universal Naspers Group. Prior to this, she was based in the United States where she was part of the executive team at the influential children’s television brand Sesame Street. She was also a member of the marketing team that launched the Korean motor vehicle corporation Daewoo in the USA. Talk about trailblazing, we are inspired.
Passionate about the production of local content and its global development and growth thereof, Biola Alabi increased M-Net’s Africa portfolio with the launch of Africa Magic Hausa and Yoruba in 2010 and Africa Magic Swahili in 2011. Without a doubt, these channels have made considerable contributions to the promotion of indigenous languages and cultures in Africa.
Also Read, The Nigerian women in Forbes Africa 50 Most Powerful Women
She oversaw four editions of the popular reality series Big Brother Africa and created the Face of Africa Finale in Lagos in 2010 and the first-ever Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards in 2013.
Recently, Biola Alabi Media has been leading the Lagos Film Lab initiative. Given the huge potential of Nollywood, the British Council and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) partnered with Biola Alabi Media and Creative England to create the Lagos Film Lab to support emerging talents in the film industry.
Participants are in an intensive residential program that will teach them about script development, production, marketing, financing and several other important aspects crucial to film-making. The candidates are being mentored by seasoned film executives and professionals in the industry. Seminars and workshops are open to those looking to improve their skills and expertise in the film industry.
Biola Alabi attended the University of Cincinnati and obtained a (B.Sc.) degree in Public and Community Health, 1996. She went on to Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and obtained a certificate in Global Leadership and Public Policy.
Additionally, she has a certificate from Yale University’s Jackson Institute of Global Affairs. Biola Alabi has received local and global recognition.
Awards and Recognition
20 Youngest Power Women in Africa by Forbes Magazine 2012 Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum, 2012
West African Business Woman of the Year, CNBC Africa’s AABLA, 2013
One of the Top 100 Global Female Executive, Financial Times List, 2018
Bukas and Joints are aired every Sunday night at 7 pm and available on channel 128 and 253 on StarTimes and DStv respectively. Please watch and share your views. We are waiting.
We admire Biola Alabi’s philosophy on serving others in order to be served, it is very apt and insightful. To get value, we must create value and in time the value created will accrue benefits. In her own words, no one invites you to have a seat at the table unless they see how you have served not just yourself but others.
How are you serving others and creating value, this is a question we must ask ourselves daily.
Biola Alabi inspires us all.