Mike Adenuga: The Bull @ 71
For Otunba Mike Adenuga Jr., the debonair billionaire businessman and founder of Globacom, there cannot be any separation of the umbilical cord between him and his iconic brand. The business mogul, popularly revered as the “Bull”, recently clocked 71 years old, and it calls for rolling out the drums for celebration.
Born in April 1953, Chief Mike Adenuga, GCON is an alumnus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Pace University, New York, where he acquired degrees in Business Administration. In 1979, precisely at the age of 26, the young industrialist made his first million through the sales of lace and distribution of soft drinks.
He joined the big boys who dabbled into telecoms following the revolution that hit the industry in 2002.
In 2003, the Apesin of Ijebu land got a license to found Global Communications after the revocation of the conditional GSM license issued to him in 1999. By August 29, 2003, GLO, a multinational telecoms company began a full operation in Nigeria. In 2011, it became the first telecommunication company to build an $800 million high-capacity fibre-optic cable known as Glo-1, a submarine cable from the United Kingdom to Nigeria. It is the first successful submarine cable from the UK to Nigeria.
Glo has remained a catalyst for socio-economic empowerment while constantly investing massively in new technologies to exceed customer expectations. The telecom giant has been carrying out an aggressive roll-out of network equipment and upgrade of its sites to 4G-LTE across the country in order to continue to offer high speed and quality data experience to its over 56 million subscribers.
According to Glo, the process covers the entire scope of telecoms infrastructure upgrade from the core network to access network, transmission and IP network, fiber network, metro access and backbone infrastructure. It also involves rollout of new sites to increase network coverage in areas that need improvement and to also densify and ease off already congested areas. The process is designed to ultimately improve customers’ network experience and satisfaction in terms of service delivery, network quality and coverage.
Globacom’s massive investments in digital technology, array of value added services, strong and unique marketing initiatives have made it the network of choice for millions of telephone users over the past 19 years.
On a regional scale, Africa has the lowest number of Internet connections of about 22 percent. The continent also has the largest potential for progress. The African Union (AU), with support from the World Bank Group, has set the goal of connecting every individual, business, and government on the continent by 2030.
As part of Adenuga’s corporate legacy, Globacom has also impacted significantly on international telecom operations with Glo Gateway, the International Wholesale Voice and Data Exchange and Trading Business Unit of Globacom. It is the first operator in Africa to launch gateway switches outside the continent to carry international voice and data traffic. Glo 1, the first privately owned submarine cable, has also addressed the bandwidth requirements of the West African sub-region and led to crashing of data tariffs.
However, not many people know that this 71-year old business tycoon is also a big player in the oil sector, just as he is in telecoms. Before diving into telecoms, Adenuga was the leading light in the downstream sector. He owns Con Oil, which has filling stations across Nigeria. Without acquiring a formal training in the oil sector, he took a huge risk that eventually paid off.
In 1991, he had Consolidated Oil prospect for Crude Oil, thereby setting in motion the agenda that consequently helped to increase Nigeria’s crude oil reserve from 16 billion barrels to about 20 by 1995. He was one of the indigenous businessmen who got exploration blocks. That decision has put him ahead of his contemporaries as he enjoys the privilege of being the first Nigerian to find recoverable oil and also emerged the only Nigerian who produces oil in commercial quantity from his oil field offshore in the Niger Delta.
In 2012, Adenuga was made Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger by the Nigerian government. In 2018, he was decorated with the insignia of a Commander of the Legion of Honour by President Emmanuel Macron of France. In 2019, he was listed as one of the top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine.
In words and in deed, Adenuga unarguably remains a living inspiration, an intrepid business general whose accomplishments and greatness cannot be diminished by the haunting spectre of economic turbulence.
Adenuga’s growth trajectory can be attributed to several factors, including his business acumen, resilience, and ability to seize opportunities.
One of his most significant contributions to society is the Mike Adenuga Foundation. The Foundation provides scholarships to underprivileged students and supports initiatives that promote sustainable development. Through the Foundation, Adenuga has made substantial investments in healthcare, education, and community development, thereby contributing to the growth and development of society.
Adenuga’s achievements are a testament to the fact that with hard work, determination, and a heart for philanthropy, anything is possible. He is a role model for young entrepreneurs who are just starting out and serves as an inspiration to those who aspire to make a difference in society.
Happy birthday to the Bull @ 71.
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