Dr. Michael Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga Jr. (CON) was born in 1953, in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, although his parents hail from 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 US. 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.
In 1991, his Consolidated Oil firm struck oil in the shallow waters of Southwestern Ondo State, the first indigenous oil company to do so in commercial quantity. He was issued a conditional GSM license in 1999. His telecom company Globacom spread quickly and launched services in the Republic of Benin in 2008, and has continued its spread across Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, with more licenses currently being prospected in other West African countries. He was named African Entrepreneur of The Year at the maiden African Telecoms Awards (ATA) on 15 August, 2007. In 2012 he was honoured with Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, GCON.
Reputed as one of Africa’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.
These companies provide direct employment to thousands of workers and millions of their dependants indirectly.
When the history of telecommunications industry in Africa is written, Mike Adenuga would earn a chapter as a man who disrupted an oligarchic convention for the benefit of mankind.
During Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary, 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.
His company, Globacom, is the biggest supporter of football in Africa and has raised the profile of football in Nigeria with the sponsorship of the annual CAF Awards and made it the most glamorous sports event on the continent.
In 2009, Dr. Adenuga won the coveted Silverbird Man of the Year Award, polling over 75% of the votes cast. Similarly, several other media organisations have honoured the Globacom Chairman with their Man of the Year Award within the last five years.
Mike Adenuga is happily married with children.
