By Ignatius Okorocha

The Acting National Secretary of Okun Development Association (ODA) has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding an illustrious son of South-East Yagba worthy to assume the position of a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement signed he signed himself, Acting National Secretary of Okun Development Association (ODA), Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, said he deeply felicitates an illustrious and greatly esteemed Okun compatriot, the Agba Akin of South-East Yagba, and Aare Atona of Ekinrin-Adde, His Excellency, Ambassador Audu-Rafiu Olusola ENIKANOLAIYE, on his well-deserved appointment as Minister of State-Designate, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This appointment is considered fitting and one of the most strategic decisions of President Tinubu. It is a good development that will impact significantly on Nigeria’s image and foreign policy trajectory, considering the uncommon wealth of experience and noble character of the Minister-designate.

“Obviously, and undeniably, President Tinubu made the right choice by nominating Ambassador ENIKANOLAIYE, considering for the post of Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, considering that he is well-suited to add the desired value to this administration quest of repositioning our nation’s policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships, as well as to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional cooporation and stability, while safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.

“Ambassador ENIKANOLAIYE’s good career record, vast international exposure, network, and the depth of his professional knowledge and expertise in the Nigerian foreign service as a distinguished diplomat make him a good pick for the job.

“His vast career experience having earlier served as permanent secretary at the ministry of foreign affairs, and as senior special assistant on foreign affairs and international relations to the Preisident, will surely place the new Minister in good stead on his tour of duty, particularly at this juncture of increasing volatility in global politics and shifting dynamics of global order manifesting in a major transition from unipolarity to a complex multipolar system.”

According to him,”Sola ENIKANOLAIYE represents the pinnacle of ethical social and moral behaviour. He ia is a personification of nobility and an embodiment of impeccable character, integrity, humility, and excellence. His moral courage to always stand for what is right is most endearing.

“This great Okun son is known and celebrated as an exemplar of the act and art of social and a promoter of unity in diversity, and he always prioritizes the community and public good overself.

“His stepping up to the national stage as a federal cabinet member to contribute to the sustainable growth and development of the nation at this point in time is heartwarming for all Okun son and daughter gobally.

“It is undeniable that he has, over the years, not only impacted his Okun homeland and people but has played key roles in community development and has been a vital agent for social harmony. He has remarkably snd consistently given to the Okun nation, the larger Nigerian society and humanity in general, in deeds and in position actions.

“I have a strong conviction that Ambassador Sola ENIKANOLAIYE will do the Okun nation proud, and he will work to reposition Nigeria for greater global reckoning, and will assuredly write his indeliby name on the sands of time.

“Sir, I feel very proud to be associated with you. This is wishing you God’s speed, good health, and divine protection as you embark on this critical national assignment, which will further and admirably place the name of Okun on national and global map.”

By Liliian Chinasa Orlando

When Nigerians were in tight rope and were paying through their nose to access some foreign-dominated sectors that had been milking the citizens dry, come Dr Mike Adenuga, who came with a strong capacity to break the jinx hitherto seen by many as impossible.

Through him three things were proven: First, indigenous firms can crack capital-intensive sectors like oil and telecom. Secondly, pricing disruption can democratize access for millions. And thirdly, wealth means more when it builds platforms for others.

These proven engineered the steel-like mind set that has driven the successes of Dr Mike Adenuga business philosophy, thus, it has made him more successful in all his ventures that include but not limited to the following:

Conoil Producing: Upstream exploration and production. One of Nigeria’s largest indigenous E&P companies.
Conoil PLC: Downstream marketing with 400+ filling stations nationwide. Listed on NGX.
This broke the monopoly of foreign multinationals and proved local capacity in capital-intensive oil.
Telecom Revolution: The coming of Globacom.
The 1999 Setback. He paid whopping $20M for a GSM licence via Communications Investment Ltd, but it was revoked by the Obasanjo government. Lost the deposit.
But someone to be discouraged, he made a comeback in 2002, when he Won the Second National Operator (SNO) licence for $200M with Globacom Ltd. Reportedly paid the $180M balance 35 minutes before deadline.

By August 29, 2003, Glo Mobile had been launched, resulting in the disruption of the telecommunication market overnight. With the launch, he subsequently introduced Per-second billing; a system competitors tagged an impossible feat to achieve. But Glo did it, forcing the rivals, MTN & Econet to follow within weeks.
Glo, through the founder, Mike Adenuga, crashed entry costs: this means that SIM cards dropped from ₦20,000-₦25,000 to affordable levels.

For all these impossible innovations in the telecom sector, Nigerins paid him back with massive appreciation by subscribing to Glo network. This identification resulted in aggressive rollout, where over 1million subscribers were recorded in 9 months in 87 towns, thereby giving the company a whopping ₦120 billion revenue in just one year of hitting the market.

Mike Adenuga didn’t relent on the little achievements recorded so far, rather it was such achievements that prodded him to consolidate more in the ever-expandding sector.

So, in 2011, Glo-1 Cable, was lunched. This is the first wholly African-owned submarine cable; costing the company $800M, that runs through 9,800km from UK to Nigeria. This feat gave Nigeria and other West African countries, direct, cheaper bandwidth, which eventually cut reliance on foreign carriers.

Today, Adenuga’s Globacom has become Nigeria’s 2nd largest operator with 60M+ subscribers, operating in Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, with a nick name of “Grandmaster of Data”.

Dr Adenuga’s business ingenuity does not stop stop with Globacom, as he had other business Interests that include,
Banking: Major stake Sterling Bank.
In real estate sector, he has a significant property portfolio in Lagos, Abuja, London.
In Aviation sector Dr Adenuga has many private jets, that run aviation services for both domestic and international purposes.
Forbes consistently ranks him among Africa’s top 5 richest, with wealth built primarily in Nigeria.

His business style cannot be divorced from his personality. With moniker nick name of “The Bull”, this signifies his relentless, calculated risk-taking approach in doing business.

Dr. Mike Adeniyi Adenuga Jr., GCON, was
born in April 29, 1953 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. His father: Oloye Michael Agbolade Adenuga Sr.was a schoolteacher, while his mother, Chief Mrs. Oyindamola Adenuga, was a prominent Yewa businesswoman who traded in textiles.

He attended Ibadan Grammar School and Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro. For university, he moved to the U.S. where he personally funded himself by driving taxis and working as a security guard. He earned a B.Sc in Business Administration from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and an MBA from Pace University, New York, all in United States of America.

In his return to Nigeria in the late 1970s, he started trading in lace textiles, and distributing soft drinks like Coca-Cola. By age 26, he’d made his first million dollars – displaying the risk appetite and trading instincts that became his trademark.

By 1990, Chief Adenuga received an oil prospecting license from the Nigeria military president, General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration, signalling the purveyor that made the company, Consolidated Oil to struck oil in 1991, in shallow waters of Ondo State – becoming the first indigenous Nigerian company to discover oil in commercial quantity.

Today, Consolidated Oil has expanded to include Conoil Producing, a upstream exploration and production; one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous E&P companies.
There is also Conoil PLC, a downstream marketing company with over 400 filling stations nationwide. Conoil PLC had listed on Nigeria Stock Exchange. This feat broke the monopoly of foreign multinationals and once again proved local capacity in capital-intensive oil.

Through the Mike Adenuga Foundation, Dr Adenuga supports many people by giving extensively. He has also endowed Mike Adenuga Professional Chair at University of Lagos, funds scholarships for indigent students and donates to buildings/facilities to schools.

In the health and disaster Relief, he remains one of the major donors during the COVID-19. He has equally touched lived through his donations to foods disaster victims, and to other national emergencies, which included funding medical outreach programmes in Nigeria and beyond.

Other areas Dr Adenuga has shown significant large heart include sports and culture sectors. Through his company, Glo, he sponsors Glo CAF Awards, and also sponsored Africa’s top football awards for 11 years.
His Glo company remains the major sponsor of Nigerian Super Eagles and league.
The country’s Nollywood, music, and cultural festivals cannot be what they are today without the massive sponsorship they had received from Dr Mike Adenuga, making many of these sports, music and Nollywood legends Glo Ambassadors.

In his home town of Ijebu-Igbo, and other neighboring communities, Dr Adenuga has shown indelible mark through the provision of Infrastructure projects. These are done through quiet interventions for individuals – medical bills, school fees.

Therefore , it is in recognition of his outstanding works in the country, Africa and the world at large that Nigerian government bestowed on him the country’s 2nd highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON. He was also recognized by government of France by honouring him with Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, that country’s highest honor in 2018.
Ghana also bestowed on him the Companion of the Star of Ghana, a national honor.
He was also honoured with African Entrepreneur of the Year, for many times.

Dr. Mike Adeniyi Adenuga Jr., GCON is married with children. He maintains a low profile.

At 73, he remains Executive Chairman of Globacom and Conoil Producing. Divides time between Nigeria, London, and France.

From taxi driver in New York to telecom tycoon, his story is Nigeria’s case study in homegrown capitalism.

Happy birthday, Sir.

By David Owei, Bayelsa

President Ahmed Tinunbu was in Bayelsa state on a one day visit ,during which he inaugurated the 60 megawatts Gas Turbine embarked upon by the administration of Governor Douye Diri,s administration.

The president also inaugurated some historic projects,among which ate the 630 metre Angiama-Oporoma, which has given access roads to over 60 communities in Southern Ijaw consistency 3 and 4 and also the inauguration of the dualised road linking the New Yenagoa City.

In his remarks during a stakeholders’ meeting at state Banquet Hall after the inauguration ceremony, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu extolled governor Senator Douye Diri for his laudable infrastructural projects in the state,which are geared towards the development and growth of the state,and urged him not to relent.

“You have done a great job, I have commissioned some projects, very transformative projects, creating opportunities and jobs and hope of our nation. Thank you for that commitment and thank you for being a very progressive governor.

“Diri has demonstrated the power of very purposeful leadership and I am here standing before you promising that the challenges that we face , the memory of those who led this country face the battles and challenges of security. We will work hard, we will continue to train our men of the armed forces, we will defeat terrorism and banditry, regardless of their shenanigans.

“In our party APC, we believe that the people deserve to see governance translated into roads, bridges, power, jobs and real opportunities that affect human beings. The projects that I commissioned today demonstrate and testify to growth and development when the state and federal government work in partnership in shared purpose

Other projects inaugurated by the President includes, the 630 metre Angiama-Oporoma, which has given access roads to over 60 communities in Southern Ijaw consistency 3 and 4 and also the inauguration of the dualised road linking the New Yenagoa City.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at state Banquet Hall after the inauguration ceremony, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the hos governor Senator Douye Diri for his laudable infrastructural projects in the state.

“You have done a great job, I have commissioned some projects, very transformative projects, creating opportunities and jobs and hope of our nation. Thank you for that commitment and thank you for being a very progressive governor.

“Diri has demonstrated the power of very purposeful leadership and I am here standing before you promising that the challenges that we face , the memory of those who led this country face the battles and challenges of security. We will work hard, we will continue to train our men of the armed forces, we will defeat terrorism and banditry, regardless of their shenanigans.

“In our party APC, we believe that the people deserve to see governance translated into roads, bridges, power, jobs and real opportunities that affect human beings. The projects that I commissioned today demonstrate and testify to growth and development when the state and federal government work in partnership in shared purpose.

“The IPP is a blessing and I thank you for embarking on it. There can be no industrialization and skill development and empowerment without power, that is a vision. I assure Nigerians that we will have electricity to power our growth.

“I thank you and I will encourage you, and I will support you to do more . The spirit of partnership that you mentioned is there . You are the goose that lays the golden egg, and we will continue to partner to make it a golden Niger Delta, that is my assurance to Bayelsa State and Nigeria, that we will continue to focus on development that make our nation grow. It is very important that we are transparent and honest with our people.”

While speaking, the host governor Senator Douye Diri, prayed the president to extend the same gesture he extended Nembe/Brass road to the Sagbama-Ekeremor – Agge Road and the Yenagoa – Oporoma – Ukubie Road.

“We also respectfully implore Your Excellency to direct the relevant authorities to re-imburse the State for the phases already completed by the Bayelsa State Government.

“With Bayelsa’s extensive coastal assets, we fully align with the Federal Government’s initiative to develop the blue economy. The global marine and blue economy, estimated to generate at least US$2.5 trillion annually, is a vast opportunity, and as the first state to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we are grateful for the Federal Government’s encouragement and support.

“Equally significant is the iconic 630-metre Angiama-Oporoma Bridge – a project promised by the federal government more than six decades ago, long predating your administration but left to gather dust in bureaucratic files. We are delighted that the modest effort of the Government of Assured Prosperity has finally addressed this pain. It has righted a historical injustice against one of Nigeria’s top oil-producing Local Government Areas.

“Your Excellency, I am pleased to inform you of the far‑reaching benefits of this initiative. Over 60 communities and kingdoms in Constituencies 3 and 4 in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, as well as Constituency 3 in Brass Local Government Area, will enjoy significantly reduced travel times and lower transportation costs. This project will act as a catalyst for local development, stimulating economic activity, and strengthening the socioeconomic fabric of these zones”.

Diri speaking further said, the newly commissioned projects, together with the 30,000-seat international stadium, the nine-storey state secretariat under construction, as well as roads and bridges connecting rural communities otherwise separated by water, constitute a coherent and strategic suite of investments anchored in the Assured Prosperity agenda of our government.

“The Yenagoa/Oporoma/Ukubie, Nembe/Brass, and Sagbama/Ekeremor/Agge roads we are aggressively pushing form a trio of senatorial causeways that terminate at the Atlantic Ocean and open up significant prospects in the blue economy.

” With Bayelsa’s extensive coastal assets, we fully align with the Federal Government’s initiative to develop the blue economy. The global marine and blue economy, estimated to generate at least US$2.5 trillion annually, is a vast opportunity, and as the first state to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we are grateful for the Federal Government’s encouragement and support.

” Permit me to acknowledge the strong partnership between Bayelsa State and the Federal Government — a partnership forged by common purpose and strengthened by co‑operation. Your Excellency’s facilitation of waivers for the importation of turbines and related equipment for our Independent Power Plant and the award of phase two of the Nembe/Brass Road, among others, exemplify that partnership in action”.