Adebola Williams, also dubbed as ‘debo of lagos’, is the CEO of RED media, and a trailblazer in media and journalism. Get to know the man behind one of the most successful media companies in Africa below,
He is a well known individual in the African media world, even described as “the man with the golden touch” by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, he was also profiled by Forbes as “the man who helped elect a trifecta of presidents in Africa”.
There is so much to the man named, Adebola Williams. stay with us as we explore his roots and personal life in this article,
- Biography
Adebola Williams, is a Nigerian media entrepreneur, journalist, political activist and motivational speaker. He is the Group CEO of RED | For Africa. He co-founded and runs RED africa, Africa’s largest portfolio of youth media brands which include Red Media Africa, Statecraft Inc., The Future Awards Africa and YNaija.
His career in media and television began at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) with his backing for youth and good governance.
He was born 7 March 1986, to a wealthy family, but lost everything they had which led to him struggling to make ends meet.
As a teenager, he was paid 50 cents for his first role as an actor. He started working as an assistant with a counselor and a psychologist as a freelancer without any relevant qualification by which time he had chalked up 3 years worthy experience with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Concerning His Professional Career
He co-founded EnoughisEnough (EiE), a Nigerian civic participation platform and a voice for youth in politics. He resigned as the board chairman to headline the rebranding of the current Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, effectively manipulating media engagement to change longstanding perceptions and sway the elections. A consequent success in Ghana helped the opposition candidate win the presidency on his third attempt, and Williams currently consults in other regions in the continent.
His 2017 cross continental speaking tour included several conferences at ivy league schools such as, Harvard, Columbia, and Oxford. He also gave a speech at the 2017 Obama summit in Chicago.
His work in corporate marketing and communication in different sectors from oil and gas to banking, technology to consumer goods has earned him and Red Media Africa several awards on the continent from SABRE Lapriga, Marketing Edge, Young Cannes and the C4F Marketing awards in Davos. He also writes a monthly column on brands and communication in The Guardian (Nigeria). Williams took part initialing massive collaboration art piece ‘Remember to Rise’.
He gave a speech at the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Africa Summit on Wednesday, 9 January, 2019 at the European Parliament on democracy and good governance.
Concerning His Married Life,
On the 7th of August, 2021, He married Kehinde Daniels, the daughter of former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniels, after formally proposing to her in November, 2020. Among those who showed up to celebrate with the couple were Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Bovi, Banky W, Noble Igwe, Timi Dakolo, Waje, Kaffy, Lala Akintoju, Omawumi, Chigul, Mawuli Gavor, and even top dignitaries such as the vice president of Nigeria, Yemi Osibanjo, the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.
