Nigerian oil and telecoms investor Dr. Mike Adeniyi Adenuga Jr. was awarded the highest civil national award with the Companion of the Star of Ghana.
According to SignalNG, Ghanaian President John Mahama, who conferred the award, said that Dr. Adenuga won it due to his unique contributions to business enterprise in Ghana and the rest of the African continent.
“Through your creative business exertions, you have touched many lives in Ghana. You have provided employment for our teeming youth, artists, footballers, and many more. I am particularly proud of you. This award is our way of saying a simple thank-you,” President Mahama said at Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana Saturday.
Dr. Adenuga’s company, Globacom, is responsible for laying the Glo-1 fibre optic cable linking Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, and Cote d’ Ivoire with Europe and the United States in order to boost Internet connectivity. In addition, he launched business unit Glo Mobile, prompting President Mahama to commend him for making “transformational achievements in the telecommunications industry.”
In acceptance of the award, the chairman of Globacom said that he is proud and encouraged that President Mahama recognized his modest contributions to the country’s development.
“This is more so as it is coming from Your Excellency, whose sterling qualities of leadership I admire greatly,” said Dr. Adenuga.
Building a Legacy
According to Forbes.com, Dr. Adenuga is Nigeria’s second richest man after Aliko Dangote. The 63-year-old is currently ranked the 103rd richest global billionaire with a net worth of $6.4 billion. The self-made billionaire is also the seventh richest man in Africa.
Globacom is the second-largest telecoms provider in Nigeria, with 32 million subscribers. Dr. Adenuga also reportedly has interests in oil exploration through his company Conoil Producing as well as real estate with his other company Proline Investments.
