Bell Ihua

Education and background

Ihua was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, where he had his early years of education up to senior secondary school. He later moved to the capital of Nigeria, Abuja to further his education as an Accounting major at the University of Abuja. Bell was involved in several student associations on campus including the student union movement. He was Financial Secretary of the Students Union Government (SUG), and Vice President and later Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian Universities Accounting Student Association (NUASA). He was also Public Relations Officer, and at some point the Vice President of the National Union of Rivers and Bayelsa State Student (NURBSS).

After working in consulting, audit and professional services for some years, Ihua relocated to the United Kingdom for further studies, first to Birmingham, where he obtained an MSc in Business Management at Birmingham City University. During this period, he was mentored by Professor Temi Abimbola (now a Director at the African Development Bank Institute). After completing his MSc in Business Management, he moved to Aberdeen in Scotland to further his studies at the Robert Gordon University, where he obtained an MSc in Knowledge Management and taught research & academic writing. He has published journal articles and technical papers. He also holds an MBA from the University of Ado-Ekiti, with bias in Entrepreneurship & Strategy, researching on the role of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises as catalysts of economic growth & development, under the supervision of Dr. A.R. Ayeni-Agbaje.

Ihua moved to Canterbury in 2007, and received his PhD from Kent Business School (KBS), University of Kent. He was a PhD student at the Centre for Value Chain Research (CVCR) in KBS under the tutelage of Professor Andrew Fearne, through whom he later met Professor David Hughes, Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College London. Ihua was an active member of the Nigerian Student Association at the University of Kent, where he mentored a number of undergraduate & postgraduate students. He also chaired the University of Kent committee for the International Conference of Nigerian Students (ICONS) in 2010.

Since the 1980s he has been actively involved in the Boys’ Brigade (BB) Society; rising through the ranks from a ‘Company Boy’ to ‘Lieutenant Officer’ and serving in various capacities ranging from Snare Drummer, to Trumpeter, Band Leader, Parade Commander and Camp Instructor. He also teaches, counsels and mentors young people on leadership, values and relationship issues under the Golden Hearts Foundation in Abuja. He runs the Bellemskey blog where he shares his thoughts on life, business, academics, Africa, arts and travel experiences.

Career

Ihua is Chief Executive Officer at NOIPolls, an opinion polling and research company based in Abuja, Nigeria. Prior to his career in research, Bell spent many years working in professional audit services, business development and management consulting. He has offered business development services (BDS) to designing and implementing effective pro-poor projects using M4P (Making Markets Work for the Poor) approach, for international development institutions, foundations, government agencies, and corporations. Bell is an expert in SME Development.

Ihua joined NOIPolls as Chief Methodologist & Director of Research in February 2012, and was given the responsibility of managing the company’s niche opinion polling and research consulting service. He managed the setting up of the company’s field force, which now manages several PAN Nigeria surveys & research assignments. He became Chief Operating Officer of the company on 1 May 2014, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in September 2015.

Prior to joining NOIPolls, Ihua was a member of the academic faculty of Coventry Business School, Coventry University, United Kingdom, where he taught business management modules and supervised undergraduate and post-graduate dissertations under the Department of Strategy & Applied Management. Prior to Coventry University, he held Research Analyst and Associate Lecturer positions at the Centre for Value Chain Research (CVCR), Kent Business School (KBS) at University of Kent in Canterbury, United Kingdom; where he also obtained his PhD in Business Administration & Management.

As part of community service, in February 2015, he was appointed an adjunct professor at Baze University, to collaborate with faculty members to conceptualize and implement rigorous applied research assignments. In September 2017, Dr. Bell Ihua was nominated by Nigeria news media, YNaija, as one of the "most powerful young persons under the age of 40 who are getting things done in policy and research" in its #YNAIJAPOWERLIST2017 for policy and research.

Talks and speaking engagements

Since 2012, Ihua has been championing the sharing and dissemination of opinion polling and research findings covering various topics, such as: Petroleum and Education in Nigeria, Lassa fever virus disease poll, Nigeria Petrol Pump Price Monitoring Poll, Political Polls, Independence Day Special Poll: Taking stock of Nigeria’s successes and failures at 55, Power Supply Tracking Polls, Election Polls, SMWLagos: Connecting Africa through Data on Social Media, Exploring the measurement of Nigerian poverty, Evidence Based Research and Opinion Polling in Nigeria.

Professional membership

Member, ESOMAR World Research, Netherlands.

Member, Academy of Marketing, UK.

Member Chartered Management Institute (MCMI), UK.

Member, Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE), UK.

Associate Member, Institute of Business Consultants (AIBC), UK.

Associate Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (AMNIM), Nigeria

Published textbooks

Ihua, U. B., (2005). Fundamentals of Business Financial Management. Inkomp Systems Publishers, Lagos. ISBN 978-064-585-3.

Ihua, U. B., (2005). Modern Strategic Management: A Fundamental Guide. Inkomp Systems Publishers, Lagos. ISBN 978-064-586-1.

Articles, conference papers, and presentations

Ihua, U. B. and Siyanbola, T. O. (2012). Critical challenges limiting small business performance in Nigeria: an exploratory investigation. International Journal of Business and Globalisation. Vol 9(2) pp. 171-185.

Cacciolatti, L., Fearne, A., Ihua, U.B. and Yawson, D. (2012). Types, Sources and Frequency of Use of Formalised Marketing Information as a Catalyst of SME Growth. Journal of Strategic Management Education. 8(1) ISSN 1649-3877.

Ihua, U. B., (2011). Entrepreneurial Implications of Nigeria’s Oil Industry Local Content Policy: Perceptions from the Niger Delta Region. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy. 5(3) pp.

Ihua, U. B. (2010). Local Content Policy and SMEs Sector Promotion: The Nigerian Oil Industry Experience. International Journal of Business and Management. 5(5) pp. 3-13.

Ihua, U. B. (2009), SMEs Key Failure-Factors: A Comparison between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Journal of Social Science. 18(3) pp. 119–207.

Ihua, U. B., Ajayi, C. And Eloji, K. N. (2009). Nigerian Content Policy in the Oil and Gas Industry: Implications for Small to Medium-Sized Oil-Service Companies. In Sigue, S. P. (2009), Repositioning African Business and Development for the 21st Century, Proceeding of the 10th International Academy of African Business and Development (IAABD) Conference in Uganda, pp 163 – 170.

Cacciolatti, L., Donnelly, C., Fearne, A., Ihua, U., Yawson, D., Armstrong, G., and Simmons, G. (2009). Use of Supermarket Panel Data amongst Small to Medium-Sized Businesses in the Food Industry. Paper presented in Conference Proceeding of the Academy of Marketing (AM) Conference hosted in Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK.

Ihua, U. B. (2008). An Exploration into the Use of Supermarket Loyalty Card Data in Small Food Companies in the UK. Poster presented at the 14th Academy of Marketing (AM) Conference, hosted in Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Scotland, UK, May 12 -15th 2008.

Ihua, U. B. (2008). Knowledge Management in Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises: How does the Management of Consumer Information Impact on Organisational Effectiveness. Paper presented at the 17th EDAMBA Summer Academic Conference, Soréze-France, July. http://www.edamba.eu/userfiles/Ihua.pdf.

Ihua, U. B. (2007). Comparative Study on Factors Influencing SMEs Failure between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Paper presented at the 12th Entrepreneurial Marketing and Small Business SIG in Academy of Marketing Conference Birmingham, UK, January.

Ihua, B. (2011). Strategic, Tactical and Operational Planning in SMEs. Presentation at CTV Foundation Seminar: Women – Building and Sustaining Entrepreneurial Spirit, London UK. February 2011.

Ihua, B. and Siyanbola, W. (2010). Youth Entrepreneurship in Nigeria: “Brain Gain” from the Diaspora. Presentation at the International Conference of Nigerian Students (ICONS). Hosted at University of Kent, Canterbury UK. April 2010. Published online:

Ihua, B. (2010). SMEs in Africa and Knowledge Management. Published online: http://onesourcelink.co.uk/?p=154.

Ihua, B. (2008). Growing Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Africa: A Knowledge Management Approach. Published online:

Ihua, B. (2008). SMEs Sector Development under the Obasanjo Administration (May 1999 – May 2003): Blessing or Curse. Presentation at the International Conference of Nigerian Students (ICONS) University of Hull.

Ihua, B. (2007). National Economic Reforms in Nigeria: Did the SMEs Sector Benefit? Published online: http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/1926/1/National-Economic-Reforms-in-Nigeria-Did-the-SMEs-Sector-Benefit/Page1.html.

Ihua, B. (2007). ABCs of Knowledge Management for Micro and Small Businesses in Africa, Business Connect. News Letter Published by the Abuja Enterprise Agency, Nigeria.

Ihua, B. (2007). Promoting SMEs Sector Development in Africa: Lessons from the “El-Rufai – Abuja Enterprise Agency” Model. Published online:http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/1920/1/Promoting-SMEs-Sector-Development-in-Africa-Lessons-from-the-El-Rufai--Abuja-Enterprise-Agency-Model/Page1.html.

Ihua, B. (2007). Tribute to a Living Legend: Chief Dr. Orlando Owoh. Published online: http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/1915/1/Tribute-to-a-Living-Legend-Chief-Dr-Orlando-Owoh/Page1.html.