Mike Adenuga is a billionaire philanthropist, businessman, and entrepreneur from Nigeria. He founded Globacom, a Nigerian telecommunications business, and serves as its chairman. Adenuga is also active in some other businesses, such as banking, real estate, and oil and gas exploration through Conoil Producing. He is among the wealthiest people in Africa, and his contributions to business and society have earned him recognition on a global scale.
- Business Insider Africa presents 7 interesting facts about Nigeria’s second richest man as he marks 70 years.
- At the start of the year, surpassed Abdulsamad Rabiu to become Nigeria’s second-richest man.
- Today marks Mike Adenuga’s 71st birthday.
In 2024, Mike Adenuga surpassed Abdulsamad Rabiu to become Nigeria’s second-richest man, a position which he has held to date. Despite his position, this is one Nigerian billionaire who has remained under the radar for over 7 decades.
Adenuga leads a relatively private life that is devoid of controversies He avoids being linked to politics with some noting that he prefers to spend most of his time with family.
As today marks his 71st birthday, here are some interesting facts about this very low-profile billionaire.
Relatively humble beginnings
Mike Adenuga’s journey to the top was not particularly a bed of roses. His mother, Omoba Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga, was a businesswoman and his father, Oloye Michael Agbolade Adenuga Sr., was a school teacher. Mike Adenuga himself worked as a taxi driver before pivoting to business.
World-class education
Despite working as a taxi driver to pay for his tuition, Mike Adenuga attended and graduated from the American universities; Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Pace University, New York, with degrees in Business Administration. He also worked as a security guard and worked in a sawmill during this period.
From selling lace to striking oil
Sticking to the theme of humble beginnings, before this billionaire owned a telecommunications and oil company amongst other notable and lucrative ventures, he sold lace and soft drinks, which earned him his first million, Shortly after he received a drilling license and in 1991, his Consolidated Oil business discovered oil in the shallow seas of Southwestern Ondo State, becoming the first indigenous oil business to do so in commercial quantities.
The bull
One of the most prominent nicknames Mike Adenuga is referred to as is the bull. Associates of his fondly refer to the man as the bull not just because he was born under the Taurus zodiac sign, which is represented as a bull, but because he is said to have the relentless characteristics of this animal.
Honours across the globe
He holds many honors across the globe including Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, Companion of the Star of Ghana, and in 2018, he was decorated with the insignia of a Commander of the Legion of Honour by President Emmanuel Macron of France.
