By the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II
Ordinarily, Kings hardly pay tributes to anyone but one man deserves an exception. He is no other than The Apesin of Ijebuland, and The Ojumo Apesin Oodua in waiting, DR MICHAEL ADENIYI AGBOLADE ISOLA ADENUGA (GCON). Many sons and daughters of Yoruba race have been in the forefront of education, business, trading, industry, technology, innovation, entertainment, philanthropy, and much more, for centuries, but Dr Adenuga combines all. And he’s just in a class of his own. It would be difficult to find enough adjectives in the lexicon to qualify this prodigiously successful icon of the 20th and 21st centuries. Dr Adenuga is the original man of grace and destiny. He is the modern day King Midas who turns everything he touches into gold. I have no reservation whatsoever in describing him in superlatives as one of the greatest humans on planet earth at this moment. This is not as a result of his stupendous wealth, or already fabled generosity, but because of his uncommon passion for human capacity development. His humility, panache, style, comportment, never-say-die spirit fascinate me endlessly. His character and charisma remain unblemished.
He exudes and radiates confidence, honor and integrity despite attempts by him to “hide under the parapet.” His reputation speaks loudly and eloquently for him.
In a community where we sometimes do not know how to celebrate our best and brightest talents, the occasion of Dr Adenuga’s 70th birthday provides me the rarest opportunity to celebrate this global icon, a proud descendant of Oduduwa, and to publicly acknowledge, and document, his unmatched support for the divine throne of Ile-Ife, the cradle of civilization.
His singular support, early in my reign, provided the solid foundation for the supersonic takeoff of my monarchy. Words fail me in describing the extraordinary financial capacity of Dr Adenuga, which I’m sure is mostly undervalued by many who do not know much about him since he is not a noisemaker.
God has been extremely kind to Dr Adenuga and he has reciprocated this sumptuous grace by being absolutely kind to mankind and to those fortunate to encounter him.
This year 2023, in my mind, is the Adenuga year, for making us proud Africans and showing us how men of means and privilege should conduct themselves with humility and decorum in the public space.
On behalf of the good people of Ife and the entire Yoruba race, I’m sending our dearest beloved Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. the best wishes and the assurances of our admiration and prayers, at all times, from the temple of Oduduwa.
Congratulations and happy birthday to this epitome of greatness, DR MICHAEL ADENIYI AGBOLADE ISOLA ADENUGA.
