Bell Ihua

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, 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.

Ihua was headhunted from his faculty position in the United Kingdom to join NOIPolls as Chief Methodologist & Director of Research in February 2012. He was charged with the responsibility of managing the company's niche opinion polling and social research consulting service. He managed the setting up of the company's field force, which now manages several PAN Nigeria surveys & research assignments. He was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company on 1 May 2014, and appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by the Board of Directors in September 2015.

Dr. 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.

Dr. Bell Ihua (born Ugwushi Bellema Ihua, December 20, 1979) is the Executive Director at Africa Polling Institute (API), an independent, non-profit and non-partisan public opinion think-tank, which conducts opinion polls, surveys, social research and evaluation studies at the intersection of democracy, governance, economic conditions and public life. He is a seasoned social researcher, public opinion pollster, survey expert, management consultant, and adjunct professor. Dr. Ihua is involved in the general management of the Institute's day-to-day operations. Prior to joining API, he was CEO of Nigeria's premier opinion polling company, NOI Polls Limited. He also served as Principal Consultant at DBI Analytics Consulting; and currently serves on the Boards of SMYLE Africa Group and Dumena Code Academy.