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A Toast to Globacom Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr

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By Michael Effiong

 

It is just like yesterday when Nigerians awoke to the birth Globacom, the only indigenous telecommunications company and national carrier-and 19 years after, it has become one of the most recognisable brands not only in Nigeria but on the continent of Africa and beyond.

The monumental success of Globacom can be attributed to the vision of the company’s chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, GCON. Fondly called the Great Guru or most recently, the “Spirit Of Africa” as christened by our Publisher, Dele Momodu, Adenuga’s persona as a hard-working risk taker, towering symbol of enterprise, undisputed game changer and  someone with an unquenchable quest for excellence are all encapsulated in Globacom.

Globacom, like its Chairman entered the market in a bullish and bold way. The per second billing that the foreign-owned operators had said was impossible was implemented on day one. And with that audacious step, Globacom democratized the telecommunications industry and has catapulted him to the position of Nigeria’s richest billionaire by far.

Though Forbes Rich List will tell you other wise, Adenuga with his investments in oil & gas, telecommunications, financial services, construction real estate and more has no rival. But he likes it the way it is at the moment because he will never give out his financial data or details. He likes to keep us all guessing, while he is smiling to the bank every second!

But who really is Mike Adenuga? Adenuga is one of the very few humans in the world that is in a world of his own. He is comparable to no one-an enigmatic personality who is a typical Taurean: Tough as nails, audacious, patient and very reliable.

It is because of his zodiac sign that some call him The Bull. He has the insignia of the bull almost everywhere around him. Indeed, a bull is part of his personal crest. This is easily recognisable on all personal correspondences and envelopes. When you arrive Globacom’s Corporate Headquarters in Nigeria aptly named: Mike Adenuga Towers, you are welcome by an intimidating bronze bull sculpture, just like the famous charging bull that stands proudly on the famous Wall Street in New York. That is not all, the Headquarters of one his companies, Conoil in Marina, Lagos is called The Bull Plaza and golden bull sculptures are used to accentuate his new home in Banana Island, Ikoyi in Lagos.

His bullish nature is not only by pictures or sculptures, he breathes it, lives it and exhibits it in real life. Just like an ill prepared matador gets ripped, Adenuga, The Bull, usually crushes those who underestimate him or take him for granted.

He is a stickler for perfection who has zero tolerance for sloppiness or indolence, that is why the minutest of details in his operations interest him. He is not one of those arm-chair businessmen, he is hands-on and that always strives for nothing but the best, and his never-give-up attitude is exemplary.

Perhaps a good indication of his penchant for turning one’s travail to triumph was the birth of Globacom. With Globacom, he showed that failure is not final but an avenue to show your inner strength and strong will. For him, impossible is non existent.

The American owner of Orlando Magic basket ball team said ” The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants in life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe it is possible”

This point was also reaffirmed by Orison Swett Marden, Author and Founder of Success Magazine, who said “Great men have found no royal road to their triumph. It is always the old route by way of industry and perseverance”.

 His initial setback in the telecoms industry was enough to break any ordinary businessman, but not Adenuga. In 2001, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) announced that the nation was ready to auction Global System Mobil (GSM) licences and called for bids.

At the end of the process, four companies, including Adenuga’s Communications Investment Limited (CIL) were declared winners. Everyone was to make a mandatory payment of $20million (Twenty million dollars) as commitment and then pay $265million as licence fee in 14 days.

While Adenuga was in the process of making payment, his technical team discovered a problem. They found that his allocated frequency was in dispute.  He was now in dilemma, should he pay such a huge amount on a venture that is a subject of litigation or withdraw? The lion-hearted Adenuga decided to effect payment with a condition as any smart businessman would do to protect himself. To his chagrin, government announced that CIL failed to meet the payment deadline and the licence was revoked.

Mike Jituboh, Globacom’s Executive Director, Special Duties who was part of the CIL team during the 3-day auction recalled the painful incident in an interview with Technology Times of Nigeria.

According to him “A day after winning one of the three GSM licences, a CIL team led by Adenuga  (an evidence of his penchant for being hands-on and in the thick of action) headed for Paris for negotiations with BNP Paribas. After several days of protracted negotiations, agreements were reached on terms and conditions for a loan facility for $265million for paying the balance for the GSM licence. The deadline for payment was 5pm of February 9th, on that fateful day, all was set for a transfer by SWIFT instruction then word came in from our colleagues in Lagos that the frequecncy allocated to CIL was the same as the one hitherto allocated to Motophone, owned by the Chagoury’s. The later was in court to challenge the frequency’s withdrawal.

“With its assigned frequency under litigation and the deadline of payment almost elapsing, we had to decide whether or not to pay the huge sum of $265million. With no time left to resolve this knotty issue with the government, we decided to make payment with the condition that the money should be released after the government gives CIL indemnity to cover the possibility of Motophone’s winning its suit and retaining the litigious frequency”

“Consequently, payment of $265million was made by BNP Paribas before the deadline directly to the JP Morgan, New York designated account along with the aforementioned condition.

“As most Nigerians will recall the government rejected the condition and cancelled the CIL licence. The government refused all entreaties and the funds were eventually returned to BNP Paribas” This first hand account puts paid to the rumours that made the rounds at the time that CIL licence was cancelled because Adenuga did not have the funds to pay.

His elder brother, Otunba Ademola Adenuga had this to say about that setback ” Mike lost $20million but he never lost hope. He never gave up hope, that is one thing about my brother, he is an eternal optimist. Something kept propelling him not to give up on the matter”

And like the dogged fighter that he is, Adenuga took that upper firmly on the chin, brushed it aside and waited for another opportunity. And that opportunity soon came in August 2002.

The government decided to embark on another auction of licences, and interestingly, this was a bigger pie as it was about to sell the Second National Operator (SNO). The licence entitles the winner to operate a GSM, fixed wireless and more. The price was even lower $200million. Omnitel Nigeria Limited, AFZI (Telecommunications ) Limited and CIL now rechristened Globacom met the deadline-and it was only Globacom after paying the initial $20 that was able to pay the remaining $180 million and that was how Globacom was born.

Through Globacom, Adenuga is propagating his philosophies of life to the African continent. Glo has taught us to “Glo with Prride”, It has encouraged us to “Rule The World”, it has helped us to believe that opportunities for success on “Are Unlimited” and has reinforced the spirit of dedication by urging us all to start “Driving To Future” success.

Apart from spreading these messages of hope, it is an indigenous brand that elicits pride in all Africans for its top notch service and consistent innovation. Its contribution to sports, entertainmet and culture has been massive. Glo is it! Little wonder that Adenuga so believes in his brand that he sometimes personally voices commercials!

Despite his humongous success, some people still habour the long-worn story that he is fronting for some people. Those who are close to the Chairman laugh derisively at these set of people.

Those close to him have since confirmed that Adenuga is not a fan of partnership. The business guru is a one man riot squad who likes to be the main man and not part of an orchestra because he has his own set of rules.

All the business ventures he has been involved in, he reports to no one except God Almighty.

Yes, he loves God. He strongly believes in the God factor in the affairs of men and that is why as true Catholic, he goes almost everywhere with his chaplet, sometimes he is silent in prayers. He also has his own chapel at his expansive home.

He knows full well though that prayer alone is not the key and that is reason he is a workaholic. He has very little interests outside his business.

He is the sort of billionaire who loves his work. Like Rupert Murdoch, another hard work-loving fanatic said, Adenuga also believes that “Working is not a means to an end, it’s the end”. He has his own terms and time of doing things.

And that is why he chooses those around him carefully, he is someone who cherishes loyalty to the max and pays loyal workers handsomely. The work can be back-breaking, including putting in you all at odd hours but the reward for working close or for the guru is usually handsome.

Talking of reward, he is one of Nigeria’s most open-hearted and silent philanthropists. He is extremely generous and gives without much fanfare. His philanthropy budget is indescribable and touches so many lives.  He never forgets people who have been good to him. His official donations are now channeled through the Mike Adenuga Foundation.

 

And maybe because of this innate propensity to give, he steers clear of many people, he is not one of those we see at every social event. He is very private and strict about his security which we gathered was due to an incident many years back. Even at his company’s functions, it is no longer news that Adenuga will be absent. He has his own set of rules.

This not mean he does not create time to relax, he usually catches his fun with inner circle of family and friends. There they banter and share fund moments. As a connoisseur of fine wine and exotic spirits, they savour these beverages, munch on hors d’oeuvre and gourmet meals. It at occasions  like these that his joie de vivre becomes obvious.

To his children though, he is their dear doting dad. He, like his late sweet mother, Chief (Mrs) Oyindamola Adenuga, who was his business mentor, is firm but fair.

He always tries to show them the right path and now he has within the family, a chip of the old block, in his daughter, Mrs Bella Disu, who is is breaking barriers in the business world not only as Executive Vice Chairman of Globacom but sits atop the board of top companies including as non Executive Director at Construction giants, Julius Berger.

Mrs Disu once told Ovation in an exclusive interview that her father is very caring but firm. According to her when they were younger he encouraged them to play the piano, the family used to have carols at home during Christmas. “It used to be fun and the best piano player got good gifts” she reminisced.

Then she added “He has always said that he would never stand in our way if we are follwing the right path. He dotes on us so much more that other regular fathers would

Without any shadow of doubt, through Globacom, he has firmly planted his feet on the sands of time, and the world is proud of this prodigious son of Africa. We are all proud of his accomplishments and that is why as Globacom clocks 19, we raise a toast to the Chairman of Chairmen, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr, GCON.

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Ozekhome Hails Goodluck Jonathan on 67th Birthday

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Leading human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome, has celebrated former President Goodluck Jonathan as he turns 67 today.

In a heroic-worded eulogy, the renowned author, who recently launched 50 books at once, praised the former president for his gigantic strides during his tenure, and for putting the nation above his personal interest in the aftermath of the 2015 general election.

Below is Ozekhome’s full statement:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR BROTHER AND GOOD FRIEND,DR GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR

BY PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, CON, OFR.

GEJ, you are a true democrat in the truest sense of the word.More than 8 years after you left office, many Nigerians are still yearning for your kind of humane and purposeful leadership that shunned discrimination, tribalism, sectionalism, prebendalism and cronyism.

Nigeria surely prospered under you, overtaking South Africa as the biggest rebased economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. For the common man,life was good. You certainly made your mistakes, like us all humans and mortals. But your gargantuan pluses far outweigh your few minuses. God has indeed been very kind to you, raising you from a bootstrap state of nadir to the zenith of power as president of the biggest democracy in the black world. But you never allowed power to intoxicate or overwhelm you as an aphrodisiac.

You showed uncommon humility and selfless leadership- a servant leader. As a living icon phenomenon, you have exemplified the quintessence of the highest virtues and nobility of a good man. At a time Nigeria was on the precipice of collapsing under a looming electoral inferno in 2015, you placed the national interest above your personal interest by conceding defeat to then candidate Muhammadu Buhari, even when votes were still being counted. Your immortal words before that historic occasion to the effect that “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” easily placed you in the pantheon of rare heroes. The words rekindled the genre of Abraham Lincoln’s imperishable words during his 18th November, 1863 Gettysburg declaration, that “Democracy is government of the people, for the people and by the people”. Your continuous shuttle diplomacy across the world with which you illuminate dark electoral crevices has proven you to be a world leader of respected pedigree.

Through you, Nigeria exports Democracy.

Happy birthday to an iconic and uncommon democrat.

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For Globacom, Everyday is Christmas

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Globacom Limited, Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, continues to showcase resilience and innovation, reinforcing its market presence and bringing value to its loyal customer base, which remains a central asset to the company.

Despite operating in a very competitive industry, Globacom has achieved steady growth and stability. Its main focus has been on advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Guided by a long-term strategic vision, Globacom is setting the pace in customer engagement, turning 2024 into a year of “Christmas is every day” for its subscribers. Through substantial investments in network expansion and customer rewards, Globacom has achieved significant milestones in customer loyalty, aiming to support subscribers with impactful services amid the festive season.

With a focus on bridging the digital divide, Globacom continues to support Nigeria’s tech-driven ecosystem, empowering individuals and businesses. The group has made significant strides in aligning its objectives with Nigeria’s digital literacy goals, as seen with the launch of a learning management solution that trains up to 100,000 users monthly on key digital skills, including blockchain, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence. This initiative supports Nigeria’s goal to produce 3 million technical talents by 2027.

Further positioning itself as a tech enabler, Globacom announced four upcoming digital innovation hubs to foster entrepreneurship in Nigeria, with the first set in Lagos by Q4 of 2024, followed by hubs in Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Abuja by mid-2025. These hubs aim to create new opportunities in tech and digital services for Nigeria’s growing economy.

Beyond telecommunications, Globacom actively contributes to government-led initiatives in education, agriculture, and transportation, extending its digital solutions to sectors beyond telecom.

In October 2023, the telecom giant underscored its role as a significant industry player by paying N156 billion ($210 million) in spectrum renewal fees, reinforcing its dedication to regulatory compliance and ongoing growth in Nigeria’s telecom landscape.

Globacom holds a leading position as Nigeria’s home-grown telecom provider in a particularly money guzzling venture. It has never failed to live up to expectations. The telecom behemoth further expanded into financial services through its MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank (PSB) launched in October 2022.

MoneyMaster PSB leverages a network of 100,000 agents to offer essential banking services, including deposits, remittances, and prepaid cards, supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) financial inclusion goals for the nation’s 79 million underbanked and unbanked citizens.

Globacom’s commitment to innovation, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction continues to define its legacy as a pillar of Nigeria’s digital economy, positioning it as a key player in the nation’s journey towards a digitally inclusive future. Globacom remains the pride of Nigeria.

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Ode to Chinua Achebe (1930–2013)

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By Barr Ifemeluofuma Atuanya

Iroko Ogidi, twenty and six years have lapsed since you wrote a befitting epitaph for my late father, Engr. Udemezue Atuanya (former Perm Sec/Controller of Works, defunct – East Central State) who attained immortality ahead of you.

Crafted with clinical precision this epitaph remains a tonic for my soul. An evergreen and never ending one; deeply resonating the profound legacy of my late Dad fondly called Okigbo.Okigbo was your friend, your soul-mate, your confidant, your kinsman and above all your in-law (Mrs. Agnes Adaosodi Achebe nee Atuanya was his first cousin). Yours with him therefore was an enviable affinity, far from a quicksand union. A friendship in which you proved to be a long distance runner.

Dike Ogidi (the grand one), now that your years have expired and you have gone the way of all mortals, it is obvious you cannot transit unsung and uncelebrated in the hearts of those that adored you. Hence, as thenudging and the prompting of affinity beckoned on me to pen this piece; I was to say the least star-struck, fully confronted by your larger than life image too huge for a mere narration. But I leverage on the fact that this is only a lullaby to bid you goodnight as you begin your eternal slumber in forever land.

Anya fulu ugo (the unique one), you were a rare breed of humanity; a man of priestly disposition and quiet dignity, an embodiment of deep thoughts and little talk. You were unapologetically your own person. Simple and unassuming, without airs nor chips on your shoulders. You were truly a breed apart, a locus classicus of uncommon carriage and decorum.

Like the Biblical city set on a hill, completely devoid of a hiding place, you were a world brand and the headline of history!

Your life was neither a cameo appearance nor a wink in the dark. You were never in the backburners or backwaters of life. You didn’t tiptoe through life. You were not a side attraction, mba nu! (No!) You played mainstream.

The highpoint of your life was your scholastic profundity. You were the grandmaster and presiding deity (Agaba Idu) of the literary world. You were not just a man of letters but of profound letters; the herald of African literary Renaissance.

Whether a broad stroke or a short take you never failed to pen a masterpiece, such that re-wrote the destiny of the entire black race beyond comprehension.

Your scholastic wizardry utterly demystified racial stereotypes and became the ultimate game changer in the condescending view points and warped consciousness of colonial writers like Joseph Conrad (Heart of Darkness), who felt the Ebony race is savage and less human. Suffice it to say that your literary fecundity syndicated the caveat that Africans must not be judged by color but by content, lending a vigilant voice to the legacy of Martin Luther King (Jnr).

Little wonder the superb articulation of your skill and sagacity caught the attention of the African living legend; Nelson Mandela that he referred to you as the writer in whose company the prison walls came down.

Agaba Idu, in life you were a colossus nay in death a colossal loss. Not just to the black race but to Ogidi in particular. More so since you sustained a flamboyant banner for her when it seemed her glory had departed (Ichabod).

For once upon a time in the history of this country Ogidi was a dynasty of icons. What with the rare breed of Ogidi Engineers that called the shots at the then Ministry of Works and Transport, defunct East Central State. I am talking about Udemezue Atuanya; Super Perm Sec. and controller of works, my uncle Maduegbuna Unobagha, Christopher Udokwu (odu) Augustine Achebe, Chike Ifekandu, Steven Okoye etc that shone like million stars in their hey days.

Oh! how I relish with extravagant passion, my Uncle Eric Atuanya (Ezefum); pioneer and and iconic legend of the then Mobile oil Nigeria, Walter Onubogu (renowned medic and former Minister for Health, defunct Eastern Region), BVO Amobi (then Igwe Ogidi and famed Medic), Justice Alfred Obi-Okoye (deified jurist), John and Oby Okaro (a double dose of medical lngenuity), Egwu Atuanya (Iconic Pioneer Medic of the National Assembly Clinic, Lagos), legendary Nweze Udokwu (profound progenitor of phenomenal Nike Grammar School, Enugu), Nwafor Agulefo (A list Medic), Ernest Okocha (Engineer per excellence), Dr Nwasike of Ikenga Ogidi (primus inter pares) Ikwuemesi (of Sosoliso fame), Dr Ojuche of Nkwelle Ogidi (exceptional Medic) and lots more too numerous to mention and too monumental to keep memories distant.
Oh! Ogidi lnwelle, what gallery and galaxy of super stars you suckled, what an enviable pedigree!

But alas Ogidi Idemili it is no longer uhuru for you. At some point in your golden history you began to nose dive. Like a missing chord in a grand Orchestra you began to pale into obscurity. You made a wide berth from the frontlines and headlines of Nigerian history. What a far cry of yester years! So apt for this scenario is the indelible and highly redeeming question of my dexterous and dynamic Governor Mr. Peter Obi: Is Anambra state cursed or are we the cause? And so do I ask: Is Ogidi now cursed or are we the cause? Have we
overdrawn our Account in the history bank of this country? Why are we no longer upstream and mainstream? Why?

But as I pondered with apostolic sobriety, my intuition is deafened by the sound of abundance of rain. Yes in my mind’s eye I see thick clouds aligning and realigning to drench Ogidi with the double honour of former and latter rains, such that Ogidi will yet again reap a bountiful harvest. Like the proverbial phoenix Ogidi shall rise from the ashes of her past glory to dizzy heights of prominence. Breaking forth like waters, she will yet again break ground and breakthrough to redeem her star-studded years in all spheres of endeavor. Already people like Ada Unobagha (Solicitor General, Anambra State), Lawrence Ikeakor (Hon. Commissioner for Health, Anambra State), Bob Manuel Udokwu (Senior Special Assistance on Creative Media Anambra State and Nollywood guru), Ada Ehigiamusoe (Justice of Benin High Court), Chiedu Osakwe (Former Ambassador and Director of Accessions World Trade Organization, Geneva Switzerland) are eloquent telling points in this regard. So to Nkwelle Ogidi, Ikenga Ogidi, Umuanugo, Umudoma, Ire etc I make bold to say; it is morning yet on creation day for you! Post Nubia phoebus!
Oh! What a digression. Chinualumogu are you still online? I only made a brief detour to make a case for the diming destiny of Ogidi Inwelle, our common patrimony. More so at your demise.

As my ink dries on this piece and I begin to bid you a final goodbye, I must not fail to mention that controversy barely parts company with Patron Avatars like you. And so it was, akin to the deified African masquerade that does not exit an outing without erupting violent clouds of dust, deafening ripples (not likely to evaporate in a hurry) ushered your final departure. What with the raw umbrage and rabid vituperations that confronted your final offering to humanity. Or better still; the last testament of your literary exploits titled: There was a Country. Not a talk in the margins, this Best Seller is so pungent and penetrating; belching and pulsating with controversy. But as the hullabaloo raged, you meandered through the landmines of verbal artillery and veered into eternal glory!

Then I wondered could this book be Pandora’s Box? Has it caused things to fall apart and anarchy unleashed upon the earth? Capital No! It is simply the parting shot of an ardent marksman. The signature tune and sign off phrase of a departing legend. Oh! How you stirred the hornet’s nest, ruffled feathers, rattled nerves and bowed out when the ovation was highest!

What a clinical finishing!

Whether demonized or canonized, lauded or loathed, it remains an undisputed fact of global history that you were truly a genius! You are gone, but you rocked the red carpet of history in no mean way; making full proof that death is not the greatest loss in life but what dies inside a man when he lives and/or what dies with a man when he dies. You were none of such you died empty totally discharging all your potentials. To wit a clear handover of baton to upstarts in the relay race of life. Good finish!

Chinualumogu, well done and fare thee well as you journey to the land of eternal consequence, where you will definitely walk tall among our ancestors.

Na gboo! (Fare thee well) Iroko Ogidi!
And to the living may we aptly be reminded that we are all transient toys in this fleeting game called life.

Now that your remains have been gracefully lumbered to dust, I cannot affirm any less that truly, there was a man!

Barr. IfemeluOfuma Atuanya is the daughter of late Engr. Udemezue Atuanya of Umuosodi, Nkwelle Ogidi, Anambra State. She is an Attorney, a published Author, a Sociologist and a public speaker, and can be reached via ashestobeautyng@ gmail.com and 08147492771

This piece was first published in 2013.

HERE ARE SOME REVIEWS FROM READERS:

Wonderful! I’m satisfied. R.I.P Chinua Achebe – Rico De Red

Nice one bro. He is truly a legend – Vic Popee

A long but very interesting piece. Barr Ofuma, thanks for a job well done. One can easily say that Ogidi people have a flair for writing. God bless you – Engr. Arinze Nnoka

Excellent and a thought through piece for an extraordinary as well as distinguished citizen. He will surely be missed – Emeka Belonwu

Ogidi Kwenu!! I am proud to be a daughter of the land. Thank you Ofuma… – Nanma Okafor

You said it all, thank you very much oke nwadi-ani – Chris Ogo

Just seeing this piece to a man more deserving. Great job Ofuma. Ogidi mulum ma fenyenam nni. Ogidi is rising again! – Nkiru Okongwu-Eziakor

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