Last Sunday, April 29, Nigerian business tycoon and one of the richest black men in the world, Dr. Mike Adenuga, turned 65, amidst a frenzy of celebrations.
As proof of his success story in life, Adenuga, Chairman of Globacom, a leading Nigerian telecommunications company, was celebrated to high heavens from across the world for obvious reasons.
It goes to show that if the Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State-born businessman were a book, he would be an interesting read. How? For a man who has a flourishing business empire with substantial investments in telecommunications, banking, oil and gas, it is not for fun that he is described as a visionary leader, an exemplary entrepreneur and an outstanding manager of men and resources.
Much as he is admired by all, what is not in doubt is that he never entombs his dream in the face of challenges. Here was a man who, despite the misfortune he suffered with his ICL in the early days of the telecoms industry, remained unshaken.
Even when he had to temporarily relocate to Ghana at the height of his face-off with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he never gave up on the Nigerian Project, so to say. He came back better, stronger and more determined with the introduction of Globacom, which later rescued the country from the jaws of other competitors in the sector.  In 1991, he launched Consolidated Oil Limited, which struck oil in commercial quantity. It has since grown in leaps and bounds after he consolidated his investment in the oil sector with the purchase of National Oil (now Conoil Producing Limited).
Blessed with innovative ideas, he introduced modern retail outlets such as mega stations and non-space pumps with Conoil Plc in the downstream sector.
Adenuga, who cherishes friendship a great deal, loves to put smiles on people’s faces with The Mike Adenuga Foundation.
The foundation has positively impacted the lives of many people within and outside the country by creating or supporting initiatives that deliver knowledge, skills, resources and infrastructure that will stimulate innovation, facilitate commerce, drive enterprise and improve living conditions.
Its core programme interests are entrepreneurship, education, health, and rural development. The education programme aims to support the study of disciplines that drive innovation and development.
The Mike Adenuga Fellowship Programme has funded undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and research fellowships at local and international institutions in the following disciplines: petroleum engineering, information and communications technologies, banking and finance, entrepreneurship studies, development studies, electrical and electronics engineering.
Also, his love for football is legendary. He has changed the face of football on the continent. The Adenuga Group sponsors the Glo-CAF Awards, an annual recognition of African stars featuring in top leagues all over the world.
The Bull was born in 1953 in Ibadan into the family of Chief Michael Agbolade Adenuga Snr. and Madam Oyindamola Adenuga. He is an alumnus of the famous Ibadan Grammar School, Oyo State Nigeria; North Western State University, Alva Oklahoma, and Pace University, New York, both in the United States of America.
