Chief Dr Mike Adenuga Jr @ 72: A Business Mogul with unquenchable thirst for investment, development, generosity & philanthropy
By Cyriacus Nnaji
He is a compendium of completeness of character, divinely high business acumen and a pilot with the greatest visionary compass for national and global initiatives
April 29, 2025, whether anybody likes it or not, remains an epochal day in the calendar of the world mapped out for the celebration of a global figure; it is the birthday of a high flyer, a celebrity, an icon, a prodigy, a national and world class champion, much more, a highly detribalized philanthropist, Chief Dr Mike Adenuga Jr, a man truly blessed in all sense of the word.
Chief Mike Adenuga is too big to be subjected to the intricacies and nitty-gritty of usual literal description because there is no definite adjective powerful and captivating enough to define and describe Dr Adenuga. He is iconic, he is philanthropic, he is an investor, an inventor, an innovator, an administrator, a motivator, a kind man, loving, detribalized. In the end these words have still not expressly and powerfully defined Dr Adenuga because he is indefinable; he is just a phenomenon, a man with Midas touch.
Chief Dr. Mike Adenuga can be likened to what an elephant is to a man. How do you describe an elephant? You define an elephant based on the part you are able to see or touch. So we can’t talk much about Chief Adenuga because we lack such fluidity, word power, oratory, verbosity, and erudition to embark on such exalted assignment, but suffice it to say that, he is the Founder and Chairman of Conoil and Globacom, the best oil and gas company and telecommunications company in Africa.
Of course 72 years in the life of a man with great appetite for greatness and international acclaim is a thing of joy and we remain thankful to God. With flourishing business empire and extensive investments in oil and gas, telecommunications and banking, we can say Chief Adenuga is a visionary leader, an exemplary entrepreneur and an outstanding manager of men and resources; he is no doubt a billionaire with milk of human kindness and a man of unquenchable magnanimity.
As a true Nigerian, he has invested heavily in the nation’s economy and successfully laid the foundation for the first indigenous GSM Company in Nigeria. Indeed he is an inspiration to different generations of Nigerians and a role model to the majority of upcoming businessmen in the country and beyond. His business style and model have no doubt been exceptional, leading to the success of his businesses across the globe.
Dr Adenuga’s doggedness has changed the scene for the better and since then it has been great milestones for telecom subscribers in the country. Before he came into the telecom sphere, he has proven that he is born to change, recreate and transform any field he finds himself.
With innovative ideas, in 1991, Chief Adenuga launched Consolidated Oil Limited, which became the first indigenous oil company to strike oil in commercial quantities. He is also the owner of Conoil Producing Limited.
His Globacom, the telecommunication giant commenced services in Nigeria with innovation on August 29, 2003 with a vision to be the market-leading service provider in the country. The company from inception to date has demonstrated its commitment to creating value with its products and services, thus empowering millions of Nigerians in the process.
Under Adenuga ‘s astute leadership, Globacom has a record of many firsts in 22 years of operation in the Nigerian Telecommunications industry and has remained a pacesetter despite rolling out its services two years after other networks started operations. Some of the recorded firsts include; he championed per second billing, first to implement a 2.5 G network in Nigeria, first to implement a 3G network in Nigeria, first to offer 4G LTE, first to offer Blackberry solutions in Nigeria, and first to launch submarine cable (GLO 1) which provides efficient and fast broadband internet services.
Glo remains a leader in the telecoms sector with over fifty-three million subscribers including multinational corporations, decision-makers in the public and private sectors, students, artisans, and those in rural communities connected to the network. These subscribers are enjoying access to high-quality products and affordable telecom services.
The company has remained very committed to social investments in its areas of operation. It has extensively supported the movie Industry in Nigeria (Nollywood) and in Ghana (Ghollywood) with notable actors and actresses chosen as Glo Ambassadors. This move and many others empowered African arts and culture. The sponsorship of several cultural festivals in its areas of operation is another aspect of its Corporate Social Responsibilities which has resonated with the people. In addition to these are countless donations and support by Dr. Adenuga in different parts of the country, thus empowering Nigerians in different areas of human endeavor, a true Nigerian who invested heavily in the nation’s economy.
Strictly speaking, Globacom has become synonymous with innovation; innovation being the practical implementation of ideas that result in the introduction of new goods or services or improvement in offering of goods or services. It can further be defined as the process of bringing about new ideas, methods, products, services, or solutions that have a significant positive impact and value. It involves transforming creative concepts into tangible outcomes that improve efficiency, and effectiveness, or address unmet needs.
Innovation encompasses novel approaches to problem-solving, processes, organizational practices. At its core, innovation involves challenging the status quo, thinking outside the box, and taking calculated risks to drive progress and achieve breakthrough outcomes.
Recently Globacom embarked on network upgrade, the aim of which was to expand network capacity, give subscribers additional resources for better voice and data and improve customer satisfaction in congested locations, the ongoing nationwide technical enhancement efforts are to guarantee better customer experience on the network.
From the reason for the expansion, Globacom habitually keeps innovating for the purpose of Customer satisfaction, which for many was a masterstroke in Information Technology service delivery and this is one very facts subscribers can’t stop loving, patronizing and subscribing to this network, Glo, for being customer centric and always thinking customer and how to elevate their experience to the next level of satisfaction, this indeed is one quality lacking in other telecoms companies.
Of course, the company has promised to continue to be dedicated to creating a top-notch telecommunications infrastructure and providing customers with the most affordable rates for voice and data services in response to the recent hike in telecom tariffs. The company didn’t stop there; the company made true its statement as it has successfully launched hundreds of new sites in Lagos, Ogun, Nasarawa, Rivers, Edo, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and Abuja in the past several months.
Knowing that the bulk of information technological users were domiciled in the universities and other tertiary institution campuses, the company has furthermore incorporated hundreds of LTE 2600 sites in the following institutions in Rivers, Edo, Abuja, Enugu, and Anambra States, as well as important markets in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, and Kwara. This was done to make sure there was no network congestion and to improve high-speed data in the areas.
The company said also, “Globacom has expanded its data network capacity and made improvements to 1700 sites, primarily in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Plateau states, in accordance with the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy’s broadband penetration initiative.”
The company said hundreds of new locations with 2G, 3G, and 4G base stations are being built nationwide to increase capacity demand and coverage. It additionally said that Customers’ network experience and satisfaction will also be boosted in terms of service delivery, network quality, as will their data throughput or speed.
More revelations have also shown that the solely built Glo1 undersea cable capacity was recently increased to guarantee optimal utilization in order to support these expansion initiatives and guarantee Glo customers’ smooth access to ultra-high speed. Eventually the aim of the upgrade in all its ramifications, according to the company is to guarantee a distinctive calling and surfing experience on the Glo network at all times, it will efficiently support the technological expansions and improvements.
Additionally, Glo has started a large statewide initiative to upgrade its fiber and power infrastructure, upgrading thousands of kilometers of its infrastructure and installing thousands of new generators. This is aimed at creating more redundancy for better network availability.
As a business strategy, Glo’s innovation put the customers first, Customer-centricity is a business strategy that is based on putting the customer first and at the core of any business in order to provide a positive experience and build a long term relationship. With this Globacom has continued to soar like the eagle in the information technology space in Nigeria, the Sub-Sahara Africa and beyond.
As a corporate telecommunications entity, Globacom through its Value Added Services (VAS) has maintained a class above her competitors, of course Globacom is miles ahead of all of them in constantly innovating and putting the customer ahead, Globacom ensures and enhances implementations of her value added services not minding the added cost on its telecoms service delivery.
It is indelible and one must always recall the tremendous innovative and disruptive mission which brought about the mind blowing business decision to introduce per second billing (PSB) which was the revolution, the transformation that the Telecommunications space in Nigeria needed to be where it is currently. Nigeria’s teledensity improved today was made possible by the coming of GLO otherwise, not minding the inherent benefits of GSM, the Nigerian teledensity would have still remained at its lowest ebb, because with high cost of SIM, SMS, and voice at inception and with less purchasing economic power, Nigeria would still have been where NITEL left her.
The cutthroat and unrepentant insensitivity of those who came before her made GSM at its inception in Nigeria to be above the reach of the common man until Globacom landed. Alas, these so-called GSM operators in Nigeria are still hellbent to destroy the milestones which Nigeria has covered through Globacom. This great indigenous company has weathered the storm and has survived the odds and harsh operational economic environment in the country and stood tall head and shoulder above her competitors.
As a company at the forefront of revolutionary changes in the telecommunication sector in Nigeria, it crashed the cost of acquiring SIM cards in the country from about N25,000 to just about N200. Finally it dropped the long lasting and most effective telecoms bombshell as it launched operations on a Per Second Billing platform, a feat others had described as impossible to achieve until another five years.
Recently Globacom unveiled a deal with Samsung, world’s leading manufacturer of electronic devices, to avail unique benefits to Glo subscribers on the new Galaxy S25 phone series.
Globacom disclosed that the exciting deal gives Glo customers the opportunity to pre-order the fashionable Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphone and enjoy unique benefits including 18GB bonus data, just for her customers.
Globacom has consistently recorded an increase in the number of subscribers in its 22 years of operation due to freebies regularly enjoyed by both old and new subscribers. The company’s continuous network upgrade and extension of 4G data coverage to more cities have also contributed to its internet subscribers’ growth.
Over time Globacom sustained its leadership as the “Most Reliable Mobile 4G LTE Network” and “Most Innovative Mobile Network. This was even made manifest at the annual Beacon of ICT Awards because of its unique products and value added services such as Glo Berekete, Glo Café and friendly recharge and data plans”.
GLO also connects 12 nations in the West African sub region, including some of them that are landlocked. Glo1 is credited with crashing the cost of internet services and is today the preferred cable system by global OTT providers. It connects thousands of kilometers of national fibre to all parts of Nigeria.
The latest in the bouquet of her VAS offering is the Promotional bonanzas including her Festival of Joy Promo. Since its inception, the Festival of Joy has uplifted many Nigerians from grass to grace and from grace to millionaire status. The number of generators, grinding machines, sewing machine, tricycles won by GLO customers are uncountable, the same with houses. Then Prado Jeeps are being won as if they are ordinary motorcycles. Many customers have won countless number of Globacom sponsored festival of joy bonanzas which have significantly changed their lives.
In 2021, the giant telecommunications company experienced consistent growth from June to September 2021. A report on internet subscriber data by NCC showed an increase of 338,189 subscribers from June to July. In August, the number increased by 453,109, and in September, 234,979 subscribers were added. And the good news continues to soar till date.
While we narrate the evidence based milestone of the telecommunications company, it is proper to reiterate that the successes of Globacom must be intrinsically tied to the vision of the owner.
So, Chief (Dr) Mike Adenuga Jr, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the Otunba Apesin of the Ijebu Clan, a man who in 2018 was decorated with the insignia of a commander of the Legion of Honour by President Emmanuel Macron of France, to say the fact, there are definitely no two Dr Mike Adenuga in the world, he is a special breed and forever will be remembered as a good man wherever he goes.
Bravo! Congratulations as you celebrate your 72nd birthday, and wishing you more happy returns in good health.
