Mike Adenuga, jnr


By Ebere Wabara


ON August 29, 2003, a telephonic catalyst evolved in Nigeria to re-engineer the totality of our communicative essence. Today hallmarks the 19th anniversary of Globacom, the per-second billing innovative icon which revolutionized our people’s speech chemistry and with its multifarious instrumentalities changed the entirety of our existential humanism, particularly entrepreneurial empowerment and the universalism of our informational habit amid holistic enablement and unlimited opportunities.


For purposes of doubt elimination and elucidation, the avowals here are authoritative because I should know having worked in the generally-acknowledged pace-setting institution as a Corporate Affairs Manager and by virtue of my celebrated years as a consummate media professional who bagged national distinction and corporate recognition awards in the heyday of the Daily Times a long time ago.


Of course, almost everyone knows that the brain behind the soar-away telecom giant is Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON. His explorative initiatives have inevitably stamped an inestimable mark of quintessence on the brand such that one may think that it is a multi-national brand that has been in existence for the past 19 decades—not just fleeting years!


In its 19 years, Globacom has immeasurably impacted on the lives of Africans, especially Nigerians, for obvious reasons. With Globacom came the emergence of ubiquitous and thriving call centres shortly before it made the acquisition of lines and handsets seamlessly affordable for all its subscribers. With this massive ownership of handsets and per-second billing regime came the gradual extinction of call-kiosks and umbrella mini-offices of improvisation hitherto used for commercial calls in all nooks and crannies. 


Almost everyone now has access to at least basic handsets. The point that must be underscored is the unprecedented economic exposure this intervention brought about while the phase lasted, thanks to the respected nationalist and businessman who is unusually committed to boundless and borderless philanthropy that elevates consanguinity.


Globacom is a huge success story simply because of the Guru’s enigmatic profile that has defied explication by one and all. The only way to rationalize what Globacom has become today is to attempt a comprehension of the cerebral composure of Mr. Chairman.


 Once you are able to do this, you will begin to have a faint idea of why and how this telephonic trailblazer is exponentially flourishing illimitably and inimitably with prospective novelties and other anticipatory interventions that border on quality of service.


Going by Dr. Adenuga’s robust antecedents in other spheres of investments, it would have been astonishing if Globacom became a fiasco! Our subject’s flourish like the lilies is essentially a function of its promoter’s confounding pedigree that exudes Midas touch. Succinctly put, Globacom was destined to succeed despite initial governmental bottlenecks strewn on its embryonic trajectory. 


If it were possible for the enervated competition to abort its entry into the spectrum business, we would today have been paying for calls and internet utility through the nose! In other words, Dr. Adenuga was godsend to liberate humanity beyond the imagination of anyone or corporate citizens in the same industry.


One of the major reasons Globacom became an instant success was the mega vision the Grand Commander had and his voyage into the octopus mission of solely running a telecom establishment from the scratch to maturity without external funding or local borrowing. At a point, the erstwhile vicious leadership of this country could not imagine how an individual could own the mega-dollar investment! And to worsen matters, this unwavering advocate of selfless service could not support a thoughtless and an asinine political project at the time and consequently became the target of executive witch-hunt. All the vindictive and petty transpirations of Presidential yore have become history.


Another reason Globacom keeps making waves is the fact that its proprietor is the Chairman of Chairmen and Africa’s numero uno entrepreneur. Only a few multi-billionaires can have the acumen to successfully set up a multi-billion-dollar enterprise as this that was novel in this part of the world at the time it landed here. It requires more than financial capacity to administer this—mega-bucks solidity notwithstanding.


I have the conviction that if not for Dr. Adenuga’s industry, Globacom, probably, would not have become the leader that it is today. The infrastructural input alone can put off even strong-hearted moneybags. You need grit to run this engagement, especially when all the social ecologies rest on you with little or no governmental buffer. The financial scope and outlay are such that you cannot afford to fail. Anything else is suicidal sojourn!       

                                                                                                                          

Only a colossus like The Bull could have managed Globacom and taken it to the enviable height it has attained to the amazement of initial sceptics who at the foundational stage must have thought and concluded that this was another pipe dream that would be still-birthed! But, as I have found out over time, Uncle Niyi does not subscribe to such defeatist dispositions. He does not believe in impossibilities—for him, everything is doable as long as you challenge yourself and have the belief.


Employees of the Mike Adenuga Group must have imbibed the role model characteristics of Dr. Adenuga because almost all staff carry on with the same passion that the Big Boss has for diligence and excellence, among other positives. This attribute has resulted in summit standard of performance and acceptable output culminating in overall threshold of competitive edge.


Because Uncle Niyi is a testament to success in life and business, Globacom was programmed to equally triumph at all costs. This explains the zeal with which extraneous teething challenges of Globacom were confronted and decimated. Nobody remembers those trying moments anymore because of the garlands and unparalleled patronage that have come the way of Globacom and continue to trail it, locally and internationally.


An astute administrator, Dr. Adenuga from the inception of Globacom somewhat ensured that only the best hands carefully joined the company which guaranteed today’s optimal performance of the organization. Once it is discovered that you have corruptive/thievish tendencies or do not have the requisite competency and capacity to function as a privileged and treasured Globacom worker, you are shown the door! This has ensured a top-class group of dedicated staff.


Globacom was bound to succeed if for no other reason the achievements of the Executive Chairman, his leadership and inspirational credentials and his belief that with diligence and passion for one’s subscription, success was guaranteed without any iota of skepticism. This, obviously, has rubbed off on our subject today to the satisfaction of its exponential clientele and joy of its proprietor.


Overall, what makes Globacom the market leader? What is its cutting-edge? The revelation: affordable, robust, unique and expansive bouquets of optimal products and services. Its most superior technology in the sector guarantees supersonic and best internet offering—which is even acknowledged by competition! This declarative stance is with all sense of responsibility and honesty.


Happy 19th anniversary to Nigeria’s zestful and trail-blazing Glo family as we all take off our hats to The Bull!


credit: The SUN