"The Guru" is 55
By Chris Ajaero
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Mike Adenuga Jnr., business mogul, turns 55
His imposing mansion in his Ibadan country home is called Gold Digger's Place. And in virtually all his chain of businesses, he had struck gold, which makes him one of Nigeria's most successful moguls.
Mike Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga Jnr, chairman, Globacom Limited who turns 55 on April 29 is indeed a consummate businessman and entrepreneur extraordinaire. His resounding success in business was achieved through hardwork, resourcefulness, and sheer determination.
Adenuga had a humble beginning. He was born on April 29, 1953 in Ibadan, Oyo State to the late Mike Adenuga Snr., a respected teacher and Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga, a seasoned business woman. He started early in life to imbibe the entrepreneurial spirit.
After his post primary education at the famous Ibadan Grammar School, he proceeded to the United States for further studies. While in the United States, he studied Business Administration with pedigree in marketing at both the Northwestern State University, Alva Oklahoma and the Pace University, New York.
On his return to Nigeria, Adenuga took over his parents' sawmill factory in Ijebu - Ode, Ogun State and transformed it. Determined to expand his business horizon, Adenuga started importing beer and laces. It was in the course of one of his business trips abroad that he met an Austrian who helped in taking his interest in business to a higher pedestal. Gradually, he started building what has today become his business empire.
Like a mustard seed, the modest sawmill business Adenuga took over from his parents has today produced a large business conglomerate which spans telecommunications, banking, oil and real estate. In the telecommunications sector, Adenuga, fondly known to his business associates as "the guru" has revolutionalised the industry.
Before Globacom was licenced as the nation's second national carrier about four and half years ago, the GSM firms were ripping off Nigerians as they insisted that the per second billing system was not practicable in Nigeria. But as a patriot, Adenuga ensured that Globacom introduced the per second billing system thereby leading to the crash in the cost of telephone services. Millions of Nigerians who are proud owners of GSM handsets today would be eternally grateful to Adenuga for his timely intervention in the telecommunications arena, which brought an end to their rip-off by other GSM firms which were licensed before Globacom.
Since then, the business icon has continued to effectively utilise his business acumen to consolidate the presence of Globacom in the telecommunications sector. Presently, the telecommunications giant is reputed as Africa's fastest growing telecommunications and entertainment service solutions provider. As a proud African, whose desire is to see Africans excel in all spheres of human endeavour, Adenuga last year changed the brand identity of Globacom from "Glo with Pride" to "Rule Your World." It is a slogan for catalysing commitment to the company's corporate vision and a clarion call to all Nigerians, nay Africans, to take their destiny in their hands as they have the potential to become the best in the world.
Impressed by Adenuga's pan- African disposition, President John Kuffour of Ghana recently declared him as Africa's No.1 businessman. He said: "When you talk about business in Africa, you talk about Adenuga. He has within a short time left his footprint on different areas of business, including banking, oil, aviation, real estate and telecommunications. But I am particularly impressed with what he has done in Globacom. Adenuga has made Globacom a force not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa's telecommunications landscape."
In the oil and gas sector, his company, Conoil is today, one of the biggest independent oil producing and marketing companies in Nigeria. Adenuga has also notched incredible success in the banking sector, through the Equatorial Trust Bank, ETB, which has continued to provide quality banking services to its growing customers through its internet banking system. It has remained one of the leading banks in Nigeria.
As an ardent sports lover, Adenuga started a football revolution in the continent with Globacom's sponsorship of the Glo Confederation of African Football, CAF, footballer of the year award. This brought a lot of glamour to the award. In order to improve the premier league in Nigeria. Adenuga had, in the past few years, sponsored the Globacom League which has led to the discovery of more Nigerian soccer stars. He also single-handedly bank-rolled the contract of Berti Vogts, the German coach whose services as the technical adviser of the Super Eagles was terminated recently after the team's dismal performance in the 2008 Nations' Cup.
Due to his immense contributions to the development of the country he was awarded the national honour as Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON. Adenuga is a meticulous and painstaking leader, who is a shining example of what a good Nigerian businessman should be - savvy, focused and yet self-effacing. At 55, he has excelled in the business sphere. He told Newswatch a few years ago, that his motivation in business is not to become the richest man in Nigeria, but to add value to the life of Nigerians. "If I can be seen as adding value to Nigerians, it is more fulfilling," he said.
|
