Yesterday, April 29, Nigerian business tycoon and one of the richest Forbes-rated black men in the world, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr GCON, glides into the leagues of septuagenariansclocking the Age of 70.

Thinking of a catchy pay-off line of a popular brand to describe his mood and reaction to his birthday it will definitely be: Life’s good, it aptly captures the current state of the ebullient chairman of Globacom, a leading Nigerian telecommunication company. Those who address him as the spirit of Africa know that he is a man who is hardly seen but immense impact is felt across all board due to his love for his private lifestyle.

If the Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State-born billionaire investor and businessman were a book, he would be an interesting read from the first page to the very end. The reason? In 2013 when he marked his 60th birthday, many of his guests looked forward to buying several copies of his biography titled Mike Adenuga: African business guru. The book written by ace journalists and biographers, Mike Awoyinfa and Late Dimgba Igwe, outlined the chronicles of his inspiring story as a great African businessman. It was said that many of the guests were, however, somewhat deflated when the much-hyped book was reportedly not presented on the occasion for some inexplicable reasons.

Little wonder why the anxiety? It is believed that the book will be a compendium of information on how to run a successful business empire as well as how to be a successful businessman despite the dwindling business space in Nigeria and Africa. It will also be a guide to up-and-coming entrepreneurs and a reference book for those who wish to earn a degree in business and management-related courses.

For a man who has a flourishing business empire with hands in many pies of business in telecommunications, oil & gas and banking,  it is not a mistake that he is described as a visionary leader, an exemplary entrepreneur, an outstanding manager of men and resources and a man sharing prosperity to many others.

Even when he had to temporarily relocate to Ghana at the height of his face-off with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he remained dogged and believed in the entity Nigeria putting the Nigerian project top of his heart, so to say. His resurgence marked the beginning of new things in the telecommunication sector, with stronger determination with the introduction of Globacom, which later rescued the country from the jaws of monopoly and opened the way for healthy competition in the industry.

 In 1991 when he launched his Consolidated Oil Limited, which became the first indigenous oil company to strike oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria; 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).

Highly blessed with innovative ideas, he introduced modern retail outlets such as mega stations and non-space pumps with Conoil Plc in the downstream sector.

The Otunba Apesin of Ijebu-Land, who cherishes friendship a great deal, loves to put smiles on people’s faces with his generous philanthropy. In particular, The Mike Adenuga Foundation has positively impacted the lives of so many people within and outside the shores of Nigeria. The Foundation has achieved this 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.

Mike Adenuga Jnr.

The Mike Adenuga Fellowship Programme has funded undergraduate and post-graduate 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.

His love for round leather games is legendary. He has changed the face of football on the African continent also sponsoring the Glo-CAF Awards, an annual recognition of African stars featuring in top leagues all over the world. He also loves music so much that he promoted talents using his support and sponsorship for the Glo Naija Sings Reality show to breed new talents.

 The French National Order of the Legion of Honour award holder 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.