Featured

Lawson,Governor Rotary District 9110 Visits LASUTH’s 2023 First Female Baby, Donates Equipment & Products

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2023

Editor

Director of Clinical Services and Training Lasuth, Professor Adebowale Adekoya , Chief Medical Director, Professor Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson, Mrs Deborah Omirin (mother) with First Female Baby Born In 2023.

Rotarian Omotunde Lawson, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9110 has visited the first female baby born in Lagos State in 2023 and also made donations to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH.

At a short ceremony held at the Ayinke House Auditorium, Rtn Omotunde Lawson who is the first female District Governor in the 42 year history of the District which covers Rotary Clubs in Lagos and Ogun States noted that the visit was part of Rotary’s Areas of Focus that deals with Maternal & Child health and an expression of compassion, love and kindness.

She noted that her visit was specifically about the first female baby born at the beginning of the year because of her passion for the elevation of the girl child and to specially congratulate the mother,Mrs Deborah Omirin.

Past Distict Governor Yomi Adewunmi, Head of Peadritaics, Rtn Omotunde Olaleye, Prof. Tokunbo Fabamwo, District Governor, Rtn Omotunde Lawson, Prof. Adebowale Adekoya & Past District Governor, Deinde Shoga

The District Governor also stated that the birth of a child requires that the mother is adequately taken care of, to ensure the baby is healthy and well, noting that the arrival of the baby was not by chance and thus her care was a huge responsibility on the parents.

District Governor, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson with Mrs Deborah Omirin (mother)& 2023 First Female Baby in LASUTH

Rtn. Lawson advised mothers to live healthy lifestyles, embrace cleanliness and ensure that they exclusively feed their babies breast milk. She also enjoined them not to miss doctor’s appointments and immunization days.

Rotarian President, Tunde Olaleye, Past President, Funke Salau, Assistant Regional Public Image Coordinator, Past President Michael Effiong with District Secretary, Assistant Governor Azuh Arinze

While thanking the LASUTH management for facilitating Rotary District 9110’s visit, she personally thanked Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, LASUTH’s Chief Medical Director, himself a Rotarian, for his commitment and leadership which has seen a remarkable improvement in the facility and also his ability to rally his top staff to be present at short notice.

In his response, Prof. Fabamwo thanked Rotary District 9110 for the visit and presentation of assorted equipment to the hospital. He stated that donations like these go a long way in helping LASUTH maintain its pride of place as top-rate health facility, insisting that government cannot do it alone.

The Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology stated that LASUTH has been undergoing substantial upgrade over the years and is not only equipped to offer advanced treatments but also have experienced consultants and medical professionals at the disposal of patients.

Mrs Deborah Omirin, the elated mother of the lucky baby, thanked Rotary District 91110 for the charitable gesture and said the donations will help her family ease some financial stress.

The District Governor was accompanied on the visit by Rotarians such as Past District Governor Deinde Shoga, Past District Governor Yomi Adewunmi, Assistant Regional Public Image Coordinator, Rtn Michael Effiong, District Secretary, Rtn Azuh Arinze, Dr Bamidele Ayodele, Past Assistant Governor Lanre Kassim, Past Assistant Governor Busola Satuyi, Past Assistant Governor Segun Adewakun, Past President Valentine Shomoye, Past President Kefe Adedibu, Rtn Tunde Olaleye, Rtn Risi Taiwo, Rtn Alozie Nzirim and members of Rotary Club of Gbagada among others.

Up Next

IGP Directs Against Duplication, Parallel Investigations in Line with Criminal Justice System

Don't Miss

2023: Before The Elections- Reuben Abati

Click to comment

Featured

Mike Adenuga at 72: Wealth Beyond Money

Published

50 minutes ago

April 28, 2025

Eric

By Arinze Anapugars

What sets him apart is not his stupendous wealth or the sprawling empire he has built. Dr. Michael Agbolade Ishola Adenuga is a man whose fortune transcends money, whose true affluence is etched in the quiet revolutions he has ignited across business, society, and the human soul.

Even as he turns 72 on April 29, Adenuga remains an enigmatic titan – inscrutable as the Sphinx, elusive as a breeze at dusk. Yet his influence echoes thunderously in boardrooms, communities, and economies, belying the quietude he so fiercely guards. “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing,” Abraham Lincoln once reflected. Dr. Mike Adenuga, in his silence and substance, is unmistakably the tree.

The Quiet Alchemy of a Titan

Dr Adenuga’s story is one of unwavering resilience, strategic brilliance, and disarming humility. His rise from modest origins to continental acclaim is not merely a story of wealth acquired, but of vision pursued with Spartan discipline and almost monastic restraint.

By his early twenties, he had already entered the gilded ranks of millionaires, not through inherited fortune, but through the sweat of night shifts as a New York taxi driver and security guard, braving icy streets with stoic resolve. The conditions were so tough that six of his compatriots gave up their jobs owing to what they termed life-threatening weather and adverse work conditions. But Dr Adenuga understood that adversity, like the English poet, George Gordon Byron, wrote in Don Juan “is the first path to truth.” And through such crucibles, Adenuga forged not just a fortune, but a formidable will.

Upon returning to Nigeria, eschewing the comfort of white-collar prestige, he chose instead the grit of his parents’ sawmill. There, he demonstrated his instinctive flair for transformation — installing cutting-edge equipment, multiplying efficiency, and sowing the first seeds of an empire.

From timber to oil, from banking to telecommunications, and from aviation to real estate, Adenuga’s ventures grew with the inevitability of sunrise, guided not merely by profit, but by a philosopher’s belief in purpose and permanence. They include Worldspan Holdings, Devcom Bank, Equatorial Trust Bank (later merging with Sterling Bank), Conoil Plc, Conoil Producing, Southern Airline and, eventually, Globacom — each a monument not just to enterprise, but to audacity.

The Rebel Who Drilled

In the tempestuous oil industry of the 1980s, while others bartered oil blocs for quick gain, Adenuga dug deep — literally. His foray into the business was a typically audacious one. When he acquired oil blocs through his Consolidated Oil company as part of the Babangida administration’s step to break the monopoly of foreigners in the production of crude oil in the country, Adenuga refused to tow his peers’ path of selling off the oil blocs to foreign companies. He chose to embark on drilling against monumental pressure and the risk of failure. His family had warned him that the oil business was the preserve of multinational oil companies and not for individual businessmen. The mother whom he was particularly close to preferred him to remain in the manufacturing business where he had made his mark and where Nigerians had succeeded greatly.

Dismissing warnings from family and scepticism from the industry, he pioneered Nigeria’s first indigenous oil production through Consolidated Oil. It was an act of entrepreneurial defiance that redefined the energy landscape.

Then came National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company (NOLCHEM), a dying brand he acquired for a then hefty sum of ₦7.4 billion, when no one else dared touch it. He changed the name to Conoil, and, under his stewardship, it rose phoenix-like, and is now one of Nigeria’s most profitable oil marketing firms. He is, in every sense, the Prometheus of Nigerian industry, having wrested fire from the gods of foreign monopoly and gifted it to his people.

The Voice that Gave Us Voice

Yet if oil carved his name in gold, it was telecommunications that etched it into legend. Twice he won a GSM licence auction, twice the licences were revoked. The first auction was done by the Abacha regime and cancelled by successive administrations, which opined that the exercise did not follow due process. Adenuga was to again win a GSM licence in 2000 under the President Olusegun Obasanjo regime. But the spectrum he was allotted was encumbered, as it had earlier been assigned to another company. When he insisted on certain guarantees before he would make the full payment for the licence, the Federal Government petulantly revoked it and stripped him of the $20 million mandatory deposit.

It was a massive loss which would have made lesser mortals recoil. But as Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in ‘Twilight of the Idols”, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” For Adenuga, that ‘why’ was vision — of a Nigeria where communication was not a privilege but a right. He pressed on and later went on to bid for the Second National Operator (SNO) license in 2002, and deposited another $20 million. This time, he was lucky. He won the bid in August of that year, and Globacom was granted the licence to operate as a national carrier, operate digital mobile lines, serve as an international gateway for telecommunications in the country, and operate fixed wireless access services.

Even then, many did not give him a chance. They argued that the telecom sector was for the well-established foreign telecom companies and that Adenuga did not have the requisite experience in that field. And when he announced that Globacom would launch with Per Second Billing (PSB), the industry scoffed loudly at him.

Again, the Great Guru, as he is fondly called by admirers, went on to prove sceptics wrong. With the birth of Globacom in 2003, his vision of democratising communication was realised. Per Second Billing, once dismissed as folly by older operators, became the new industry standard. Call rates tumbled. SIM cards not only became accessible but also affordable. The digital revolution took root. And millions of Nigerians, once voiceless, found a voice — thanks to the tenacity of one man who would not yield.

A Legacy Forged in Silence

I do not know if he ever came across this quote by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Roman emperor and philosopher, “Do not seek to be known, but to be worth knowing”. But perhaps no modern Nigerian epitomises this Stoic ideal more than Dr Mike Adenuga. Reclusive almost to the point of myth, he is rarely seen, seldom heard, hardly grants media interviews, and virtually never feted in public. Even many of his employees have never glimpsed their elusive Chairman, known to them only as “The Board.”

Yet his absence is an illusion. For in businesses, homes, hospitals, and schools, Adenuga’s presence is indelible. He gives, not for applause, but from an inner compass that points unfailingly to service. His philanthropy, like his wealth, is deliberate, vast, and largely unannounced. He gives quietly, contributing generously to various causes in health, education, and poverty alleviation. He has supported initiatives that aim to improve the lives of millions, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. While his peers may spend their time in the public eye, Adenuga chooses to channel his efforts into creating lasting change in people’s lives. For him, wealth is beyond money. It is how you touch people’s lives.

Adenuga’s legacy looms large – not only in the industries he transformed or the fortunes he built, but in the hearts he touched without fanfare. In an age that worships spectacle, his is a refreshing, almost ancient kind of greatness: the kind that measures success in lives changed, not headlines gained. “To give without ostentation,” said the Turkish philosopher Epictetus, “is the truest form of virtue.”

The downside to Adenuga’s giving spirit, however, is that even gratitude can be an intrusion. It is taboo to try to reach him to show appreciation, even if you are privileged to have his number. A thank-you text message for a huge cheque from him once earned this writer a stern rebuke. “Not acceptable,” he responded curtly. It did not end there. The following day, he called and spent over 10 minutes warning about the “intrusion”. Such is the paradox of the man: generous beyond measure, yet resistant to recognition and expression of gratitude.

Now, as he turns 72, Adenuga’s legacy looms large — not only in the industries he transformed or the fortunes he built, but in the hearts he touched without fanfare. In an age that worships spectacle, his is a refreshing, almost ancient kind of greatness: the kind that measures success in lives changed, not headlines gained. He prefers, in his words, “to keep my head under the parapet”.

Dr Mike Adenuga has done his work – quietly, unceasingly, and profoundly. As he reflects on the past 72 years, he can do so with the serenity of a fulfilled life. For in him we find not just a titan of business, but a philosopher in action — a man whose wealth lies not only in billions, but in the beauty of restraint, the majesty of vision, and the invisible architecture of hope he has built not only in Nigeria but also across the African continent.

His bequest is one of excellence, humility, and selflessness. He stands as a shining example of how to achieve greatness without the need for flamboyance, and how to build empires while remaining steadfastly humble.

Here’s to Mr. Chairman — Nigeria’s silent sentinel of enterprise, whose greatest fortune is not in what he owns, but in how deeply he has mattered!

Featured

Ned Nwoko Warns Gov Oborevwori Against Bring Old PDP Habits to APC

Published

1 hour ago

April 28, 2025

Eric

The Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, has told Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to leave “old habits” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) behind as he joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following Oborevwori’s defection, Nwoko, in a statement addressed to the governor, advised him to ensure his move to the APC is transformative.

Although he commended the governor for dumping the PDP, he advised him to leave behind “old deals” that destroyed the opposition party in Delta State.

He said, “Leave behind the politics of survival and step into the politics of legacy.”

“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Old habits, old politics, and the old deals that led to the gradual decline of the PDP in Delta must be left behind.”

Nwoko also maintained that the ruling party has already begun preparing for constitutional amendments, including the creation of Anioma and New Delta states.

“Let me remind you, this agenda was declared a done deal by the party leadership long before your defection, a testament to the APC’s commitment to correcting historical imbalances and ending regional marginalisation,” he said.

Therefore, he urged Oborevwori to embrace a new sense of purpose, lead the charge for constitutional reforms and demonstrate renewed dedication to fairness, inclusive development, and progressive governance.

He said: “Your defection must not be symbolic; it must be transformative. This is your opportunity to embrace a new sense of purpose and demonstrate renewed dedication to progressive governance, fairness, and inclusive development.

“The creation of Anioma State will finally give voice, identity, and institutional power to the aspirations of Delta North. It is a long overdue recognition of a people who have sought parity with their kinsmen.

“The proposed New Delta will address the deep internal asymmetries within the current Delta state structure. It will empower neglected communities, bring government closer to the people, and unlock new paths for economic growth.

Featured

Natasha Sends Cryptic Apology to Senate President, Akpabio

Published

1 hour ago

April 28, 2025

Eric

The suspended Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has tendered a sarcastic and satirical apology to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reigniting discussions about gender dynamics and power struggles within Nigeria’s legislative chambers.

In a letter dripping with biting irony, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan offered what could be described as a profuse “apology” for the “grievous crime” of maintaining dignity and self-respect in the Senate President’s presence.

Mockingly, she referenced expectations of compliance, writing: “How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of certain men’s entitlement.”

Addressing systemic sexism, she continued: “Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.”

The letter read in part: “Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,

It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence. I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognize that legislative success in certain quarters is apparently not earned through merit, but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.

How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologize for prioritizing competence over capitulation, vision over vanity, and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.

I now realize the catastrophic consequences of my actions: legislation delayed, tempers flared, and the tragic bruising of egos so large they require their own postcodes. For this disruption to the natural order of ‘quid pro quo,’ I bow my head in fictional shame.

Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.

I remain,

Yours in eternal resistance,

Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan

Unafraid, Unbought, and Unbroken.”

The tense relationship between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio first surfaced publicly in July 2024 when, during a plenary session, Akpabio rebuked her attempt to speak without official recognition, remarking, “We are not in a nightclub.” The comment was widely condemned as sexist, sparking public outrage and demands for an apology.

Though Akpabio later issued a statement claiming no harm was intended and affirming his respect for women, tensions deepened. In February 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan formally accused him of sexual harassment, citing inappropriate comments and advances. Her petition to Senate leadership was dismissed on procedural grounds.

The Senate later suspended her for six months over unrelated conduct, a move many Nigerians perceived as retaliatory and an attempt to silence her. The suspension triggered nationwide protests under the slogan “We are all Natasha,” with women’s rights groups and activists rallying in her defense and denouncing systemic gender-based discrimination in Nigerian politics.

While groups like the Kogi Patriotic Consultative Assembly urged her to apologize and move on, many Nigerians hailed her defiant stance, celebrating her as a symbol of resistance against entrenched biases.

For his part, Akpabio has denied all allegations, describing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims as “baseless” and “malicious,” and has threatened legal action for defamation and character assassination.