By Chinelo Lilian Umeokeke
Seventy years ago, a great star was born in the western part of Nigeria. A lot has been written about how he set out early in life to chart his own destiny, and how he quickly grew up to become an epitome of wisdom, knowledge and hard work.
Although he prefers to live and do his things quietly in the background, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., more famous for his exploits with indigenous telecommunications network, Globacom, has become a revolutionary and transformational vessel who understood clearly God’s injunction to replenish and subdue the earth.
Instead of relying on his family’s moderate wealth, he chose his own path early in life with an indomitable heart and eventually emerged as a self-made business mogul with chains of successful enterprises attached to his name. He is hardly heard or seen in public, but his close friends, associates and employees describe him as a great philosopher, a guru in economic development and entrepreneurship, a foresighted pragmatist with quintessential intelligence.
As he marks his platinum birthday, the magnificent biblical age of 70 years, this month, it is worthy to celebrate this global business icon who has positively affected millions of lives, especially in Nigeria.
The Great Mike Adenuga Jnr. has distinguished himself in various spheres of life such as aviation, banking, telecommunication, education, health, economic development, entrepreneurship and philanthropism, just to mention a few. His companies include Globacom, Conoil Plc, Conoil Producing, and Glo Mobile, Ghana, while he is also reputed to be one of the biggest shareholders in First Bank, Sterling Bank, Julius Berger and Transcorp Plc. Through these companies, he provides thousands of direct employment to Nigerians and non-Nigerians and millions of opportunities in indirect employment.
Despite his humongous wealth and outstanding accomplishments, he displays a disarming humility and stays away from public glare, qualities that are rare to find among billionaires of this magnitude.
It was in his desire to make life better for Nigerians and also in his bid to subdue the earth that the great innovation known as Globacom was born. Today many facets of society like banking, commerce, education, health, government, oil and gas are enjoying the technological evolution of Glo in Nigeria and Ghana.
Globacom is one of the most innovative networks in Africa, which brought SIM card to the beck and call of the citizens. Prior to 2003 when Glo started operations, GSM lines and handsets were reserved for a few privileged Nigerians. SIM cards cost between N20,000 and N50,000 with N50 per minute call rate. It was Glo that crashed lines to N200 and introduced per second billing so that people could pay for only the actual time spent on calls. Consequently, market women, students, artisans, okada riders, in fact, everybody started purchasing and enjoying telephone lines. It has been so amazing that people do worthwhile businesses from their homes and all sorts of services are delivered to doorsteps.
Further more, in 2010, the longstanding problem of insufficient Internet bandwidth received a solution with the introduction of Glo 1 International Submarine Cable, which has made Internet access affordable and accessible to subscribers even in remote locations across the country.
Glo empowers its customers with low local and international call tariffs, which have ensured that making calls to friends and family members abroad does not deplete the customers’ wallets at this period when most people are struggling with economic conditions.
From what we have seen in Globacom’s 20 years of operations, empowerment is one core reason the man referred to as the Chairman of Chairmen by admirers founded the network. Many Nigerian sports personalities, artistes and music superstars reached their global reckonings through the company’s series of brand endorsements, musical concerts, comedy tours and promotion fairs across the country, a rare exposure they would not have had.
From time to time, the company doles out unbelievable prizes and gifts that leave lifelong euphoria and ecstasy with the beneficiaries. In the last consumer promotion, prizes given out by the company ranged from state-of-the-art houses to cars, and other self-empowerment facilities.
The Mike Adenuga Foundation has the main mission of helping Nigerians and some other African nations to achieve social and economic independence. The foundation aims at improving the future for young people. The initiatives are focused on health needs, educational and entrepreneurial support. The Great Guru has the vision to contribute to a better and more equitable future for Nigerians and other Africans by creating and supporting initiatives that deliver resources, infrastructure, knowledge and skills for impactful socioeconomic development through improved education, healthcare and empowerment. Dr. Adenuga does this quietly without seeking attention.
To him, wealth is not measured by the amount of financial assets individuals amass but by the positive impact they create on the society through sustainable projects that can affect the immediate society in a profound manner. Through his conglomerate of business enterprises and personal interventions, he puts food on numerous tables across the nation.
The Globacom chairman derives joy in putting smiles on the faces of the needy and the underprivileged in society. He believes that the resources he has are for service to humanity. His generosity is legendary. He feels elated and satisfied whenever he rehabilitates distressed Nigerians. One such deed was the refurbishing and equipping of the home of a former national football hero, Peter Fregene, who had been financially distressed and challenged by ill health. Sources said the billionaire even placed him and his family on a mouth-watering monthly allowance.
Dr. Adenuga is really God-sent to humanity, considering the lives he has touched and is still touching by engaging in compassionate activities. His magnanimous philanthropism has earned him enduring popularity.
If only more wealthy Nigerians had the “Adenuga Spirit,” many youths would have been touched and much bloodshed, numerous vices and insecurity engulfing the nation would have been averted, simply because, through the educational intervention and material support for community transformation, youth employability and entrepreneurship would have sustainably engaged youths.
This writer joins millions of Nigerians in wishing Dr. Mike Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga (Jnr.) more of God’s blessings, good health and long life as he celebrates the biblical age of 70 years.
•Umeokeke Lilian writes from Warri, Delta State
