By Abiodun Caston-Dada
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa
If there is one thing that everyone agrees with about the enigma called Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr CSG GCON, it is simply his ACT OF GIVING. Personally and through many of his companies, his generosity has been felt near and wide.
Many people across the African landscape have benefited from his magnanimity, and you don’t necessary need to see him before you can enjoy his milk of kindness. The most recent is the Glo Foundation’s Food Relief Fair where thousands of beneficiaries across Lagos were given food and essentials. They received cartons containing food and other essentials including Rice, Garri, Spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, tooth brushes, sardines, salt, vegetable oil, bread and seasoning cubes from officials of Globacom.
The billionaire whose loin flows with milk and honey floated Michael Adenuga Foundation (MAF), which is hinged on development, education, health, rural and entrepreneurship to help people in Nigeria and across Africa. This novel initiative was leveraged to donate the princely sum of N500 million to flood victims in Bayelsa State in 2012. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation donated ₦1.5 billion to Nigeria’s emergency response ₦1 billion to the Central Bank’s relief fund and ₦500 million to the Lagos State Government. The foundation also delivered vital supplies including PPEs, respirators, masks, test kits, and sanitizers across health institutions nationwide.
His telecom company, Globacom through her various CSR Projects has touched many lives across Nigeria. The company had helped in lifting up many ailing Nigerian celebrities and icons, donating various study materials and IT equipment to campuses, staging various empowerment programmes for Nigerians.
Glo is also known for giving back to its customers via various rewarding promotions through which many customers have won houses, cars, TVs, generators, sewing machines, tricycles, etc.
His favourite quote about his act of generosity is: “If God has given you this kind of resources, it is not for you and your family alone”. His belief is that charity is a spiritual obligation that should never be a subject of media hype or vain-glorification. His attitude to giving to strangers is rare and enviable. “To give without ostentation,” said the Turkish philosopher Epictetus, “is the truest form of virtue.”
Dr. Mike Adenuga is a kindhearted philanthropist who has come to the aid of many, including average Nigerians and celebrities, and he doesn’t do this for photo-op or media hype. Truly, when it comes to philanthropy, Dr. Mike Adenuga stands in a class all by himself.
ABOUT THE ENIGMA
Dr. Mike Adenuga was born on April 29, 1953, into the family of Oloye Michael Adenuga (Snr) and Omoba Juliana (née Onashile of Okesopin, Ijebu Igbo) in Ibadan, Oyo State. His father was a school teacher, while his mother was a businesswoman. Born in Ibadan yet with roots in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, the business guru was given the name John Bull due to his size at birth and has since reflected certain characteristics of a bull, such as being a relentless fighter.
For his secondary education, he attended the prestigious Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan. From there, he proceeded to Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro, Ogun State, for his Higher School Certificate (HSC).
He attended North Western Oklahoma State University where he bagged a degree in Business Administration and later proceeded to Pace University, New York City for his MBA.
The story of the Chairman’s rise to fame and fortune is a unique one. Here was a man who was born with a silver spoon but choose to hustle, doing security guard’s job and driving cabs while schooling as an undergraduate in the United States. He made his first million at the age of 26 importing car stereos, selling lace materials and distributing soft drinks. He struck crude oil in commercial quantities at 40 and launched a telecom company that revolutionise the Nigerian telecommunication industry at 50.
The Mike Adenuga Group consists of Globacom, a telecommunication company, Cobblestone Properties and Estates, a real estate and property development company, Conoil PLC, a petroleum marketing company, and Conoil Producing, a crude exploration and production company, Worldspan Consult Nigeria Limited, Julius Berger, and Consolidated Manufacturing (West Africa) Ltd.
Dr. Mike Adenuga is one individual that believes so much in the “Nigerian Project”, and this can be seen in the numbers of companies he has invested in and established in Nigeria which are changing lives daily.
The Nigerian government recognized his numerous efforts and contributions to the growth of the country and bestowed on him the highest honours in the country, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
For improving the strong ties between France and Nigeria, France’s President Emmanuel Macron bestowed on him the country’s highest honour, Commander of the Legion.
The business mogul was also conferred with Ghana’s highest national honour, Companion of the Star of Ghana. The honour was bestowed on him in recognition of the immense contributions he has made to Ghana’s economic growth.
Dr. Mike Adenuga holds a Yoruba tribal chieftaincy as the Otunba Apesin of the Ijebu clan.
He was labeled the “Spirit of Africa” because of his rare traits of touching numerous people’s lives even when you can’t see him physically.
As the Chairman of Chairmen turns 72 on 29 April, we wish the business titan many more years filled with happiness and joy in good health.
Igba Odun, Odun Kani Ni O (Two hundred years is just a year in the eyes of the Lord)!
