SPECIAL BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE:THE NEXUS IN OPRAH WINFREY AND GLO LORD, MIKE ADENUGA

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY LESSON FROM THE ''PER SECOND PER SECOND KING''

SPECIAL TRIBUTE,BY AFRICA'S WORDSMITH,CERUTTI MIKE OSAGIE

‘’I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back’’-.Maya Angelou

As Otunba Michael Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga Jr, billionaire business tycoon and Chairman Chief Executive Officer of Globacom,  celebrates his landmark birthday, this week (29^th April) perhaps only one word best fits him… a man of peak tenacity

What then does   tenacious mean by the way? Any man labeled like that can be said to be one tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely to whatever he sets his eyes on, that is having "a tenacious grip"

The story of Adenuga can be likened to a quote by Thomas Edison when he mused that: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” 

Perhaps had Adenuga given up his dream, despite initial frustrations, the world will not be celebrating the Glo network we today enjoy. Let us start off point also look at few legends that never gave up their dreamlike Adenuga

Now, did you know that TV Great, Oprah Winfrey was once told she was unfit for television?

Or how about the fact that Michael Jordan who was cut from his high school basketball team?

These are just a few examples of the countless stories of people who whom failed before they became success 

What was it that allowed these people to respond to failure the way they did?

They had the ability to positively adapt to and rebound from adversity.

They were resilient in the face of challenges.

This resiliency is the one consistent factor between people who eventually rise up to their potential and those who live life wishing they “would have” or “could have.”

We will all face adversity along the way. It may be directly related to our personal goals, or it may be a completely random life event that knocks us down.

Regardless, how we respond to adversity is what matters, and fortunately we can learn ways to deal with challenges and remain mentally tough.

The Adenuga story is case study that we must reflect on. However, That Dr. Mike Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga (GCON) is well celebrated today by all and sundry will not in any way come as a surprise to many successful people followers, globally. This is because the Chairman of Mike Adenuga Group, probably the biggest business empire in Africa, can fittingly be summed up as the story of African enterprise.

He is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable names on the African continent. Born no no silver-spoon , Adenuga is a quintessential businessman who has made his mark so distinctly that world leaders speak glowingly about him.

One of the world’s wealthiest men, Dr. Adenuga sits atop what is generally regarded as one of the continent’s largest business empires comprising oil and gas, telecoms, aviation, banking and real estate.

In each of these sectors, Dr. Adenuga has molded his companies into major, if not dominant, players. In the oil and gas sector, for instance, 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, Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) was one of the few banks that effortlessly met the N25b capital requirement during the 2005 banking consolidation exercise without going to the stock market. It only merged with Devcom Bank which was also owned by Adenuga. Last year, ETB merged with Sterling Bank.

In telecoms, Globacom is not only the most innovative network in Nigeria, it also, in its first year of operation, became the fastest growing in Africa and the Middle East, with operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Senegal, Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire. Adenuga also has a multimillion dollar investment in real estate. These companies provide direct employment to thousands of workers and millions of others indirectly.

ADENUGA BRIEF HISTORY/EARLY SHOT AT MILLIONAIRE CLUB

Born in 1953, in the ancient city of Ibadan, into the family of Chief Mike Adenuga Snr., a school teacher and Madam Oyindamola Adenuga, a successful trader and Yeyeoba of Ijebuland. Adenuga is a native of Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State of Nigeria.

The young Adenuga 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 Masters degree at Pace University, New York, majoring in Business Administration with emphasis on Marketing. In recognition of his business accomplishments and outstanding contributions to the growth of the country, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the Ogun State University.

His sojourn in the United States of America in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece added an exciting chapter to his impressive resume. Even though the young Adenuga came from a relatively comfortable background, he paid his way through school with money he raised from driving taxi cabs and working as security guard, at different times.

Now beat this? It is not simply amazing that a man who once a guardsman in America can today be celebrated as one of Africa’s richest men? This is pure tenacity that finally paid off for him when at age 26; Adenuga became a millionaire with connections in high places. With his unique flair for risks and absolute tenacity of purpose, quickly he started making profits in billions of dollars. He is the owner Equatorial Trust Bank and Consolidated Oil, which performs crude oil drilling, refining along with marketing.

His 1st shot into the consciousness of Nigerians was when his company, Consolidated Oil became the first indigenous company to strike crude in December 1991

ADENUGA AND HIS TIRELESS FIGHT TO OWN A TELECOMMUNICATION LINE

Otunba Adenuga’s venture into the telecommunications market is not one that was painted in roses of flowers; it is no doubt one of murky waters. With his Communications Investment Limited, CIL, he was issued a conditional license in 1999 and frequencies to operate the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM). The license was later revoked. Once again, when in 2002, the government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), organized new auction for the GSM license, the CIL participated and was one of the four that won the bid. He paid the $20 million mandatory deposit.

However, in the process of affecting the release of the balance payment of $265 million, the corporation was adjudged to have failed to pay within stipulated time. CIL lost both the license and $20 million deposit. He later went on to bid for the Second National Operator (SNO) license, and deposited another $20 million. This time around, he was lucky.

He won the bid in August 2002 through his Globacom Limited. The SNO has a wider range of operations as Globacom has the right to operate as a national carrier, operate digital mobile lines, serve as international gateway for telecommunications in the country and operate fixed wireless access phones.

LESSON FROM ADENUGA’S 2^ND GLO BID FOR LICENSE: NEVER GIVE UP

·         People, like Adenuga who tend to persevere thrive on challenges. They view challenges as opportunities to rise to. They know that a challenge will help them grow and expand as a person. If Otunba had avoided the   challenge  posed  by the government through the Nigerian

·         People who are resilient and never give up, like Otunba Adenuga believe better things are yet to come. It is important that we learn from the Glo boss who has high hopes for the future. When life gets difficult knowing that we are moving toward something meaningful can help us persist. So no matter what we pay are passing or facing, and no matter how hard our current circumstances are, we must apply the Adenuga principle and must believe that things will get better. Keep hope alive and you will keep your will alive.

ADENUGA: LIVING THE MOMENT

When we are firmly grounded in the present, the past doesn’t get us down, and the uncertain future doesn’t leave us petrified. The Adenuga story is case study. Creating a vision for the future is important but we must recognize that staying present as we pursue our vision is crucial to staying mentally tough and resolute. The man dealt with challenges in the moment and did not get tripped up by the countless hurdles by other international communications line, but went ahead to broke their monopoly in the local market by introducing the per second per second billing

Indeed, Confucius was right when he posited that “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” And  Just like the Oprah Winfrey and Otunba Adenuga has proven, you too can develop traits of resiliency and determination, for it is a part of our nature to be able to bounce back from challenges and win back what we lost like that of Adenuga

ADENUGA’S WORK ETHIC: WORTHY OF EMULATION

Globally labeled as a man of uncommon intellect; a man with a deep passion for his calling; a man who is focused and considers achieving as a personal mantra. He lives a life of a workaholic no doubt. An astute world-class business expert, with worldwide business interests, Dr. Adenuga is a highly respected entrepreneur and one of the biggest employers of labor in the country. In the last two decades, he has established a pedigree as a well focused and prudent manager of men and resources with the uncanny ability to successfully transform ideas and dormant businesses to highly viable enterprises.

The man Adenuga means different things to different people. A husband, father, team leader, role model, an entrepreneur par excellence!  Though he has made giant strides in several business categories, Nigerians would probably remember him more for his timely intervention in the telecommunications arena, where he seems to hold the aces that determine the pace of play. Globacom’s historic introduction of Per Second Billing was the first time any network had launched on the billing platform. His network also pioneered such revolutionary products as Blackberry, vehicle tracking, mobile internet and mobile banking services in Nigeria. When the history of telecommunications industry in Africa is written, Adenuga surely would earn a chapter as a man who disrupted an oligarchic convention for the benefit of mankind.

And not so long ago, a grateful nation, Nigeria, honored him with the National Awards of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and later with the award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). During Nigeria’ 50th anniversary celebration, Adenuga was one of the 50 pre-eminent Nigerians who were conferred with the Special Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary Awards by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Adenuga’s nomination was as a result of his immense contributions to the growth of oil and gas, banking and the telecoms industries in the country. Checks showed that Adenuga merited the special award due to the great sacrifice he made to ensure the re-invention of the country’s telecoms industry.

AS the man set to celebrate his land ark Birthday come April 28^th 2014,we say to him March on march on, for according to America’s President, senator Barrack Obama: ‘ Even when folks are hitting you over the head, you can't stop marching. Even when they're turning the hoses on you, you can't stop.

·         HAPPY MANY RETURNS TO THE ''PER SECOND KING''  OTUNBA ADENUGA