On 29th April, friends, family and associates around the world will roll out the drum to celebrate an icon, a man of steel, truly worth his weight in gold or any more precious metals, the Guru, the Bull — Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr (GCON, CSG, CdrLH) at 72.
Mike Adenuga, as he is popularly known, was born into humble family in Ibadan, Nigeria on April 29, 1953. His father was a teacher, and his mother was a businesswoman. While studying for his MBA at Pace University, he worked as taxi driver in New York so as to support his education.
His life’s remarkable journey of struggle, perseverance, and triumph is worthy of study. He is said to have started as a small business owner, venturing into the business world when he was barely out of his teens. Even though his first company, Consolidated Oil, became one of the biggest oil exploration firms in Nigeria, it was his foray into telecommunications that would make him a legend.
Despite his enormous wealth and success (Forbes named him Africa’s sixth richest man), Adenuga is known for his reclusive nature, avoiding the media spotlight and most social events. Unlike the modern-day tycoon, you will not find him reeling out life lessons on Twitter or playing with his grandchildren on Instagram. He hasn’t written a book nor given a lecture, as though telling the world that his life’s experience and his entrepreneurial journey is an MBA course by itself. Adenuga has faced numerous challenges but has always risen to the occasion and comes out bigger and better.
He is known for his sharp mind, strategic thinking, and unyielding determination, evidenced in his determination to establish the only wholly Nigerian-owned mobile telecoms company. He has built a business empire that spans multiple sectors and has become a role model for entrepreneurs across Africa and beyond. One notable personal trait is his strong work ethic and hands-on approach to business, often involving himself in the day-to-day operations of his companies.
In addition to his business interests, Adenuga is a philanthropist who dedicates a significant portion of his wealth to social causes. His charitable work includes supporting sports, healthcare initiatives and disaster relief efforts. He has also funded several scholarships for underprivileged students, believing education is the key to lifting people out of poverty.
President Emmanuel Macron of France wrote about this icon: “You are humble enough to often publicly declare that the confidence of several French companies at the beginning of your entrepreneurial adventure was instrumental in building the success that is yours today”. Truly, humility is one of his great virtues.
Mike Adenuga was firmly entrenched in the Nigerian economy by 2001 when Obasanjo’s Administration decided to offer GSM licenses to businesses to operate and like all top businessmen, he bided for a license but lost out only on technical grounds. Like the typical bull that he is, he refused to back out, even when his ICL had lost $20m.
Many exited at the point where the government cancelled their licenses. Instead, Adenuga charged on, refusing the small battle of a legal pursuit and instead focused on the big prize at the end of what was going to be a protracted bidding war for GSM licenses. Adenuga had to call on his grit again when the prize he won came without the trophy. He bounced back over a year later, he got the license that was fairly won in an open bidding process. When the stories get told, you cannot have a single blot on his shield even when the rules were shifted against him.
He got a bigger package which today has transformed into a national carrier, Globacom.
The company from inception to date has demonstrated its commitment to creating value with its products and services, thus empowering millions of Nigerians in the process. Globacom has recorded many firsts in over 20 years of operation in the Nigerian Telecommunications industry and has remained a pacesetter despite rolling out its services two years after other networks started operations.
Glo remains a leader in the telecoms sector with over fifty-three million subscribers including multinational corporations, decision-makers in the public and private sectors, students, artisans, and those in rural communities connected to the network. These subscribers are enjoying access to high-quality products and affordable telecom services.
The company has remained committed to social investments in its operation. It has supported the movie Industry in Nigeria (Nollywood) and in Ghana (Ghollywood) with notable actors, actresses and even musicians chosen as Glo Ambassadors. This move and many others empowered African arts and culture.
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Globacom’s support for sports is legendary, particularly football in Nigeria and Ghana where the company sponsored the national teams for many years as well as the League. The Supporters’ Clubs in both countries were also not left out. It is also remarkable that Glo sponsored without fail, the annual CAF Awards, which celebrates the best footballers and administrators in Africa, (male and female) for a decade. It was a period in which the award’s gala changed from a mere event to that of a major global sporting gala, attracting top personalities from different parts of the world.
Globacom spent billions over the years to sponsor the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as well as the Glo Premier League. Dr Adenuga also paid the salaries of then Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Berti Vogts between 2007 and 2008. It is estimated that Dr. Adenuga and his companies spent over N30 billion to uplift Nigerian sports since 2003.
After over 20 years of successful operation, Globacom has grown to become a major player in the Nigerian telecom industry by offering subscribers the best value for money through the introduction of quality products and services such as Glotxt 4 million which has seen many Nigerians winning millions of naira. Other offerings like Talk More, Yarn Me More, and Glo Gista in the past, as well as recent products like My Own Don Beta Promo and Mega Data Packages as well as the popular Berekete which one way or the other help subscribers to pay less while using the Glo network.
He remains an inspiration to different generations of Nigerians and a role model to the majority of upcoming businessmen in the country and beyond. His business style and model have no doubt been exceptional, leading to the success of his businesses across the globe.
‘The Bull,’ is not merely a name with a golden insignia; it reflects some of Adenuga’s most essential characteristics. The Bull is traditionally seen as a symbol of wealth and immense strength. It does not just make an entry; it makes an unforgettable one. It does not recognize defeat; any appearance of defeat is a retreat that often proves costly for those who stand in its path. These traits find expression in the success story of Globacom, which is a testament to Adenuga’s tenacity and determination. Globacom defied the norm by starting out with a paradigm shift that remains unmatched in Nigeria. Instead of chasing the competition and playing by their rules, by crashing the price of SIM cards and starting out with per second billing — others said this was not possible at the time — the competition had to bend to his game.
If you ask his telco competitors, Adenuga is trepidation in human form. They will not forget in a hurry the uppercut he dealt them with the launch of per-second billing and crashing SIM costs when they were intent on continuing the exploitation of Nigerians by charging N30,000 for a GSM line and N50 per minute for calls even if the call dropped off after a second.
The world today celebrates Wizkid, Burna Boy and other Nigerian music superstars who have become global icons. Dr. Adenuga played a big part in accelerating their journeys into global reckoning.
He instructed his management team to engage the fledgling music stars then as brand ambassadors and took them on musical and comedy tours across the country. Many of them had the opportunity to perform in different parts of Nigeria for the first time, courtesy of Adenuga’s gesture.
Empowerment is one of the core reasons he founded Globacom. He wanted the fish seller in Epe or the yam seller in Aboh Mbaise or the farmer in Dawakin, Kano to be able to reach their customers and boost their trade. When things were tough for comedians, Nollywood stars and musicians, the endorsement and performance fees they got from Globacom helped in no small way to see them through. Many of the beneficiaries are eternally grateful for that deed.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, while celebrating Adenuga on his 70th birthday noted that: “The impact of Adenuga’s visionary leadership on Nigeria’s economy, setting the pace for investments in oil and gas, telecoms, real estate, banking, construction and hospitality, with remarkable presence in supporting entertainment, sports and African culture, within and outside the country”.
These achievements have not gone unnoticed; he has received numerous awards and accolades. He holds Nigeria’s second-highest title of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON). Before being conferred with the GCON, he had earlier been awarded, at different times, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). In 2017, he was conferred with The Companion of the Star of Ghana, the highest national award in Ghana. He bagged the “Chevalier la Legion d’Honneur” award that same year. In July 2018, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, elevated him to ‘Commander of the Legion of Honour’, France’s highest national honour.
“Entrepreneur extraordinaire”, “Spirit of Africa”, “Africa’s business icon”, “the Great Guru”, “Mr. Per Second”, “The Bull”, “Unrivalled Philanthropist”, “Recluse Billionaire” and “Chairman of Chairmen” are some of the superlatives employed by his admirers to describe him.
His birthday is not just an opportunity to celebrate his life but a time to reflect on his impact on Nigeria and Africa. His entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and philanthropic contributions continue to be an inspiration to many.
Happy birthday to a worthy man of honour.
