Our Story
We have come a long way and it’s only been 4 years, we are not where we want to be but we are not where we used to be.
Empower
Bellafricana empowers creative business owners with the right trainings, masterclasses, tools and more to enable them grow sustainable global businesses.
Support
Bellafricana supports creative business owners with the right partnerships, resources, community integration, beneficial for their growth.
Connect
Bellafricana strives to connect indigenous businesses to the consumers, by giving visibility to creative business owners and their quality products online and offline.
Our story
I noticed a rise in the number of creative indigenous (made in Nigeria, Africa) brands that have great quality, yet are struggling to grow their business with little or no financing from both the government and bigger institutions. I wondered for a long time,
“Why should we wait on financial backing from the government and big institutions to help this industry, when we can create a platform to connect these Indigenous businesses who are maximising raw materials in Nigeria (Africa), providing employment for local talents within the country and creating wealth for the Nation?”
Experience
APRIL 2016
Relaunch of Bellafricana
Bellafricana relaunched to be the go to platform bridging the buyer-seller gap between quality, indigenous businesses and their global consumers. A platform to enable creative MSMEs thrive, whilst doing all it takes to bring the quality products to the forefront of the market.
2016 - 2017
ACE Awards was launched, First Edition
An initiative to laud the creative works of Nigerians (Africans), which makes open competition affordable and accessible. In turn, this will encourage more businesses to look inwards and create more globally acceptable brands.
2017
Bellafricana enters 2 new cities
Abuja: At the Africa-Nordic Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers & Calabar: At the Bridge Leadership Foundation Career Day
2017
Mr Olusegun Awolowo (E.D NEPC)fully Endorses Bellafricana
impact
2016
After the launch of our global website to connect creative businesses to consumers, we listed and reached over 100 Creatives
2016
To further ensure we could attest to the quality of these brands, we came up with a bellafricana verification process where we must see the physical products. 50 businesses became Verified Members with a wider access to market.
2017
Over 3000 Attendees, 60 Exhibitors, 15 Awardees participated at the first ACE Awards event by Bellafricana
2017
Over 1000 young entrepreneurs in attendance at the Bridge Leadership Foundation event in Calabar had the opportunity to listen to what it takes to start a local business with a global market in mind.
2017
2017
DHL Global Partnership with Bellafricana
2017
Bellafricana partners with GLAMD Africa owned by Kiki Osibanjo thanks to Mr Awolowo. 9 Members were sponsored by NEPC FOR 1 Year
2017
Bellafricana Rebrands
2017
Bellafricana founder's first TV Interview on Arise TV
2017-2018
First Physical Bellafricana Store Opens at Labule Restaurant
2018-2019
aCE Awards Second Edition
2017
All Bellafricana members get to save 35% on worldwide shipping with DHL
2017
9 Bellafricana Members Sponsored By The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Valued At ₦3,500,000. This led to increased sales, patronage and brand visibility.
2017
Stronger Global Pan-African Positioning
2017
More Business Exposure for Bellafricana & Members
2017-2018
14 Members Get to sell their products to a wider audience, over ₦2,500,000 revenue
2018-2019
Over 4500 Attendees, 90 Exhibitors, 15 Awardees participated at the second edition of ACE Awards by Bellafricana
Experience
2019
Bellafricana keeps re-positioning
At Bellafricana, we empower, support and connect quality, talented creative indigenous businesses to their local and global consumers. Starting with Nigeria, the goal is to take it one African Country at a time.
2020 - Present
Bellafricana Membership Platform Launches
We are on a mission to empower over 100,000 people by year 2030 to start, grow and scale profitable and sustainable successful global creative businesses.
The Present - The Future
The unwavering effort and journey continues....
impact
2019
With 2 major conferences, 10 masterclasses, 4 exhibitions hosted, 10 partnerships, we are empowering over 1000 Creatives with required skills to grow, resources, access to mentors, International market access, community leverage to collaborate and more opportunities
WE SUPPORT THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Thank you for your continuous support...
LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING
We are on a mission to empower over 100,000 people by year 2030 to start, grow and scale profitable and sustainable successful global creative businesses. This is a big deal for us because what we do does not just impact the creative people we help but the people that work for them, their family and even their customers.
Bukky Asehinde
"
MANAGING dIRECTOR // FOUNDER
BUKKY ASEHINDE
The vision is real, “I have a dream, that one day quality creative Indigenous businesses will be globally accessible. I believe that every creative entrepreneur has a potential to grow sustainable global businesses. Bellafricana understands the challenges and is honored to be a part of the Creatives’ dream. Their dream is our dream.