Headline

Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr.: Celebrating A Business Guru At 66

Published

6 years ago

April 29, 2019

Editor

By Michael Effiong

Today across the globe, in the homes and the hearts of the millions that Dr Mike Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jnr has touched and impacted with his businesses, they will definitely say a word of prayer for him as he clocks 66.

Indeed, when the history book of Nigeria’s business elites is written, there is no shadow of doubt that many chapters will be reserved for Mike Adenuga Jnr.

The business genius who is simply called The Guru and who signs his name as MA Jnr clocks 66 today and The Boss is raising a a toast to this giant, this remarkable spirit of Africa that has dared to thread were others dread and has impacted the African continent with his entrepreneurial spirit.

Before Globacom, Adenuga whom many also call The Chairman was one of Nigeria’s silent billionaires, he was known but never seen. His Consolidated Oil was achieving remarkable feats in the oil and gas industry without any fanfare.

Then came Glo- and he became one of the most recognisable Nigerians alive. The reason was because Globacom, the first and only telecommunications brand wholly owned by a Nigerian, became a mega success in a very short space of time.

Glo introduced innovative products and delivered first-rate service and before long, Adenuga had taken this winning formula to other African Countries-Republic of Benin, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire.

It also became the first indigenous company to lay an international submarine cable, Glo 1, which has gigantic capacity to Africa directly to Europe and America. The optic fibre cable provides excess bandwidth to all the cities connected to the cable, and has lead to a much faster and robust connectivity for voice, data and video.

Though Forbes will rate him as Nigeria’s second richest Man, many who should know have confirmed that Adenuga is the unchallenged richest man in Nigeria and Africa.

Adenuga has over the years learnt to mold his companies into major, if not dominant, players. In the oil and gas sector, Conoil Plc is one of the largest and most profitable oil marketing companies in Nigeria. Conoil Producing, the downstream arm of the conglomerate, made history by becoming the first Nigerian company to strike oil and produce it in commercial quantity in 1991. In banking, Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) was one of the few banks that effortlessly met the N25 billion capital requirement during the 2005 banking consolidation exercise without going to the stock market. It only merged with Devcom Bank which was also owned by Adenuga, and later merged with Sterling Bank.

With his fortunes in oil and gas, real estate and the cash cow of telecommunications, it is doubtful if any Nigerian has his raw cash.It is difficult to access his earning because most of his wealth are not listed and held privately, it is not for nothing that The bullish bull has been on the Billionaires List for decades.

The taciturn man of vision, who has been described as an angel of mercy for his philanthropy and immense propensity to give ceaselessly, will certainly not be throwing a huge party today, but in the homes of many who have felt him, there will be abundant prayers and celebration.

He is a quintessential leader who has the uncanny ability to spot and nurture talents. Reputed to be very hands on in the operations of his businesses, Dr Adenuga who has appointed his cerebral daughter, Mrs Bella Disu as Executive Vice Chairman, Globacom, still gets briefs on the day-to-day running of his business empire.

Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr ‘s contribution to the business world has not only been recognised locally but he has also attained international acclaim.

In Nigeria, he holds the highest civilian honiour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) and in Ghana, he was awarded the highest civilian honour of Companion of the Star of Ghana (CSG).

According to President John Mahama who conferred the indefatigable businessman with the honour at a state ceremony ” You have touched many lives in Ghana.You have provided employment for our teeming youths, artists, footballers and many more.I am particularly proud of you.T his award is our way of a saying a simply thank you”

The entrepreneur extraordinaire was also honoured with the award of Chavalier de la Legion d Honnuer, the highest National honour of France which was bestowed on him by French President, Emmanuel Macron.

Explaining while the French Government decided to confer the honour on Adenuga, President Macron who described the serial businessman as a true model of Africa noted that he had contributed immensely to the African and French Economy.

He also applauded Adenuga for his promotion of the French Language and culture in Nigeria. Adenuga is single-handledly rebuilding the Allance Francaise, Lagos which will now be part of the Mike Adenuga Centre located on Osborne Road, Ikoyi.

It is in order therefore to salute the remarkable business guru, this exemplary son of Africa at 66.

Headline

Resume Before Trump’s Inauguration, American Schools Advise International Students

Published

2 days ago

December 28, 2024

Eric

Universities in the United States have urged international students to resume before president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Trump is set to be sworn in on January 20, 2025.

The universities advised international students to return early from winter break amid promises of another travel ban by the incoming president.

Many international students were stranded abroad when Trump imposed a travel ban at the start of his first administration.
The president-elect has been vocal about his hardline immigration stance.

Some of the actions Trump has promised to take include a travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries and the revocation of student visas of “radical anti-American and anti-semitic foreigners”.

Headline

Prerogative of Mercy: Osun Gov Pardons 53 Convicts

Published

4 days ago

December 26, 2024

Eric

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has exercise his powers of prerogative of mercy, pardoning 53 convicted inmates, including a young man sentenced to death for ‘stealing fowl’.

The governor made this known via a tweet on his official X handle with the title, PREROGATIVE OF MERCY EXTENDED TO 53 CONVICTS.

The governor noted as follows:

In line with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

In the case of inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences of the following 30 (thirty ) inmates in whole.

1. OLUBO SUNDAY
2. ISAH UMAR BIODUN
3. FAWAS KAREEM
4. OMIRIN TEMITAYO
5. OLARENWAJU AYOMIDE
6. DARE SUNDAY
7. OLADAPO TUNDE
8. GANIYU SAHEED
9. ADEWUMI SODIQ
10. ADEBAYO ADEOYE
KEHINDE
11. LASIS KAZEEM
12. DAUDA OJO (59 YEARS)
13. ISMAILA RAJI
14. OSENI MICHEAL
15. AJAYI KOREDE
16. ABIONA NURUDEEN
17. OSHI SAMUEL
18. SHEU YUSUF OLATUNJI
19. OJO AANU
20. MUSTAPHA KEHINDE
21. LASIS ABEEB
22. ALEXANDRA IORLAHA
23. OJO TAIWO
24. AZEEZ MUJEEB
25. AKINYEMI DAVID
26. ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE
27. OLAOBAJU SAMUEL
28. ADURA ADEFEMI
29. PAUL BASIL
30. KUNLE DAVID

I have also decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to the following 12 (Twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.

1. OLABOMIJI NURUDEEN
2. MUSTAPHA ISAH
3. OLALEKAN ABDULLAHI
4. AYOMIDE OLOJEDE
5. AKEEM RAPHAEL
6. ADEYEMI ABIODUN
7. OLADIPUPO SEGUN
8. OMISAKIN SUNDAY
9. ADEMOLA ADIO
10. TUNDE OLAPADE
11. LATE CHIEF WOLE OLA
RUFUS OJO
12. OMOLOYE OLAJIDE
OLAYEMI

In the case of the following 6 (Six) Convicts sentenced to death, I have approved the commutation of their sentence from death to outright release while OJEKUNLE TIMOTHY has his sentence commuted from death sentence to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment having spent at least 10 (ten) years in custody.

1 OLUWAFEMI FAGBEMI
2 BEWAJI SUNDAY
3. AMEHIN GEORGE
4. AYOMIDE ARULOGUN
5. TAIWO OLUWATOBI STEPHEN
6. ABUBAKAR ABDULAZEEZ

The following 4 (Four) Convicts also have their sentences commuted from death sentence to outright pardon.

1. SUNDAY MORAKINYO
2. SEGUN OLOWOOKERE
3. TUNDE OLAPADE
4. DEMOLA ODEYEMI

Headline

Amnesty Demands Probe of Military Airstrike in Sokoto Communities

Published

4 days ago

December 26, 2024

Eric

Amnesty International (AI) has urged the Federal government to conduct a comprehensive, independent, and impartial investigation into a military airstrike that killed at least 10 people in two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The human rights organization called on President Bola Tinubu to promptly set up an independent inquiry into the tragic incident.

Amnesty emphasized that if investigations point to criminal responsibility, the authorities must ensure that those indicted are prosecuted in fair and transparent trials, adhering to international human rights standards.

Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian military for what it described as a consistent pattern of neglect in investigating airstrikes and other violent incidents that have repeatedly endangered civilian populations.

The organization noted that this lack of accountability has fostered a climate of fear among villagers, who live under the constant threat of recurring attacks.

“These incidents have created a vicious cycle of violence and insecurity for communities, and this must not be allowed to continue,” the statement said.

Amnesty also highlighted the need for justice and effective remedies for the victims and their families, including compensation and psychological support.

They stressed that the government’s response must go beyond investigations to address the systemic failures that enable such incidents.

The call comes amid growing concerns about civilian casualties resulting from military operations in Nigeria, raising questions about the rules of engagement and the transparency of the country’s security forces.

Observers note that accountability for military actions is critical to restoring public trust and ensuring the protection of human rights.

Amnesty’s statement underscores the urgency of addressing these systemic issues to prevent further tragedies and uphold the fundamental rights of affected communities.

The Federal government has yet to respond to Amnesty International’s demands.