M-Net's Biola Alabi named 2014 Yale World Fellow

The Lagos-based 40-year-old is only the seventh Nigerian selected for the prestigious fellowship since the programme's inception in 2002. Attending Yale's campus in New Haven, Connecticut, for five months, Alabi will take part in specially-designed seminars in leadership, management and global affairs; receive individualised professional development training; attend courses and engage in discussion with a wide range of distinguished guest speakers.

Alabi served as M-Net's Africa managing director for five years until January 2014 when television content provider appointed her director of Special Projects.

As Africa managing director, Alabi spent the past five years increasing and enhancing M-Net's African portfolio, her achievements including the launch of Africa Magic Hausa, Yoruba and Swahili and the expansion of the Africa Magic brand to eight channels. She also oversaw four editions of the reality series Big Brother Africa as well as the Face of Africa Finale fashion and modelling extravaganza held in Nigeria in 2010.

A 2012 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, last year Alabi was voted West African Businesswoman of the Year as well as being named one of 20 Young Power Women in Africa by Forbes magazine.

"Spending five years at the forefront of the flourishing African film and television industry with a business as dynamic and visionary as M-Net has been an incredible experience," Alabi says. "Now, as I look forward to immersing myself in the Yale World Fellows programme, I must express my sincere appreciation to M-Net for the opportunities I have had to learn and to lead."

After her Yale fellowship, Alabi will pursue new career opportunities. M-Net sub-Saharan Africa CEO Patricia van Rooyen says Alabi's selection as a Yale World Fellow was well-deserved recognition of her talent, commitment and leadership. "African film and television are much richer for her hard work and inspired, visionary thinking over the past five years," Van Rooyen said. "We wish her every success in what will certainly be a glittering career."