President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the weekend on behalf of the Federal
Government of Nigeria awarded the Chairman of Nigeria's national telecoms
operator, Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr for entrepreneurial excellence, as
part of the activities marking the nation’s centenary, reports ITRealms.
Dr. Adenuga was bestowed with the prestigious award in the category of
‘Accomplished Contemporary Entrepreneurs’ Friday night at the grand finale of the celebrations
of the centenary anniversary organized to mark 100 years of the amalgamation of
the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria.
ITRealms gathered that the Federal
Government had as part of his citation described Adenuga as a distinguished
entrepreneur and renowned employer of labour in Nigeria.
99 other eminent Nigerians were honored at the event in various categories
ranging from "Contributors to the Making of Nigeria" to "Heroes
of the Struggle for Nigeria's Independence/Pioneer Political leaders",
"Pioneers in Professional Callings/Careers", "Pioneers in
Commerce and Industry", "Promoters of Democracy in Nigeria",
"Heroes in Global Sports Competition", "Accomplished Pioneer
Public Servants", "Accomplished Contemporary Entrepreneurs",
"Distinguished Academics", "Internationally Acclaimed
Artists, Literary Icons and Journalists," "Outstanding Bravery and
Public Spiritedness", "Outstanding Promoters of Unity, Patriotism and
National Development" and "Exemplary Service in the Promotion of
Peace and Moral Excellence".
The awardees were officially given their awards at the Banquet Hall of the
State House, Abuja.
Dr. Adenuga, who is also the Chairman of the Mike Adenuga Group, has been
variously recognized for his exploits in the business world, his commitment to
philanthropy and local empowerment, and for his passion for the growth and
development of the Nigerian economy.
At different times, he has been honoured by the Federal Republic of Nigeria
with the National Award of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON),
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Grand Commander of the Order of
Nigeria (GCON), the highest individual honour for a private citizen in the country.
During Nigeria’s 50th anniversary celebration, Dr. Adenuga received ‘Special
Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary Awards’ from the Federal Government,
being among 50 pre-eminent Nigerians whose contributions in various fields of
human endeavor had helped to move the nation forward.
ITRealms recalls that in 2010,
Thisday readers voted him ‘Nigeria’s most outstanding business personality
in the last 50 years’. In an online poll
conducted by the newspaper, the chairman of Globacom polled 4272 votes to edge
out Alhaji Aliko Dangote who scored 4156.
Dr. Adenuga has made indelible marks in
strategic sectors of the economy, which includes oil and gas, telecoms,
aviation, banking and real estate, making him one of the most famous names on
the African continent.
His telecommunications company, Globacom, is one of the most innovative
networks in Africa, with presence in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic and
footprints in Senegal, Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire.
In 2010, his telecoms firm commissioned its international submarine cable, Glo
1, providing a solution to the long-standing problem of insufficient internet
bandwidth in Africa. The attendant international connectivity helped to usher
Nigeria into an era of enhanced connectivity.
In 2003, Globacom introduced per second billing when other telecom operators
said it was impossible, and crashed the price of SIM to as low as N100, leading
to an era of productive competition and the much talked about telecom
revolution in Nigeria. The network also pioneered such revolutionary products
as Blackberry, mobile internet and mobile banking services in Nigeria.
In the oil and gas sector, Dr. Adenuga’s 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, one of Dr. Adenuga’s banks,
Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) was one of the few banks that met the N25billion
capital requirement during the 2005 banking consolidation exercise without
going to the stock market. ETB merged with Devcom Bank, also owned by Dr.
Adenuga and later Sterling Bank, which is today one of the foremost banks in
Nigeria.
Dr. Adenuga also has a multi-billion dollar investment in real estate.
His companies provide direct employment to thousands of workers and millions of
others indirectly.
Globacom is the biggest supporter of football in Africa and has raised the
profile of football in Nigeria with the sponsorship of the Glo Premier League
and all the national football teams of the country.
The company has so far spent over N9 billion in cash and kind on Nigerian
football. It has also transformed the annual CAF Awards and made it the most
glamorous sports event on the continent. CAF has awarded Adenuga the Pillar of
Football in Africa for his strong support for African Football at both national
and continental levels.
Dr. Adenuga was born in 1953, in Ibadan. He attended the famous Ibadan Grammar
School, in Oyo State, Nigeria, for his secondary education and studied Business
Administration at Northwestern State University, Alva Oklahoma, in the United
States. He also earned a Master’s degree at Pace University, New York, majoring
in Business Administration with emphasis on Marketing. He holds an honorary doctorate degree
conferred on him by the Ogun State University.
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Pix: Dr Mike Adenuga, chairman, Globacom.
