The Guru. Visionary. Pacesetter. Colossus. Transformer.

Happy birthday to Otunba Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.), Chairman of Globacom and Conoil PLC as he marks his 72 years birthday on Tuesday April 29, 2025. Cheers to one Nigerian who bestrides the African business landscape.

A special gift to Nigeria, he is renowned for his business acumen. When it is comes to business, he’s got the vision. He can see good fortune light years ahead while others are still pandering whether it is feasible.

Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.) is unafraid to venture where others fear to tread.  Fondly called ‘The Bull’ for his fearless and zeal. He’s got this Midas touch that is unparalleled. His boundless energy, philanthropy, native intelligence and wisdom combined stand him out, enabling him to see ahead of others the right sectors and businesses to invest and transform.

Changing Telecom Services Narrative

If there is anyone who single-handedly transformed Nigerian telecommunications industry, that person is no other than Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.). His tenacity to recover his Digital Mobile Licence (DML) which his company won in 2001 mobile auction but was illegally taken away from him, paid off in 2002 when his company, Globacom won the Second National Operator (SNO) licence.

In September 2003, Globacom transformed the Nigerian telecoms market in particular and Africa in general by being the first Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operator to launch operations with Per Second Billing, Multimedia Service (MMS), Mobile Internet, in additional to plethora of communications suites simultaneously.

Glo crashed the price of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, leaving other foreign mobile networks scratching their heads in the GSM wars that changed the face of telecom, bringing down the price of SIM Card from N50,000 down to N100 and later to One Naira (N1) only.

Millions of Nigerians became overnight owners of mobile phones lines courtesy of the competition engendered by Glo. Every major step Glo took from the day it commenced operation, other mobile competitors were jittery, helpless and followed the initiative in other to remain in the market.

After establishing the footprints of Glo in Nigeria, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.), also took the telecom giant to Ghana and Benin Republic with mobile operating licences in those countries. Unsatisfied with the routing of calls from Africa countries to Europe then back to Africa, he built Glo-1, the first international submarine cable system that was solely financed by an individual. Today, Glo-1 links global telecom networks, data centres, banks and Interconnect houses to millions of businesses across the world.

Globacom has going a notch higher with Glo-2 ensuring that Nigerian cities, towns and villages and oil companies are connected to terrestrial fibres through its landing stations in Lagos and Niger Delta.

Digital Financial Services

Dr Adenuga (Jnr.), a man who can see opportunities from afar, has took the lead in procuring Super-Agent licence for Agency Banking and Mobile Money licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with the establishment of Glo Mobile Money and Money Master Payment Service Bank Limited, a Digital Bank delivering financial inclusion services to Nigerians especially in rural, semi-rural and urban areas thus connecting them to the formal sector.

Oil, Gas Transformations

 He transformed the face of Nigerian oil, banking, and telecommunications industries. In 1991, when oil mining and production was controlled by foreign multinational companies (MNCs), Dr. Adenuga’s (Jnr.) indigenous oil company was the first to start drilling crude oil. Today, Conoil has metamorphosed into one of the largest African-owned oil conglomerates on the continent with footprints in the upstream, midstream and downstream of the oil and gas sector. 

His forays into the bank industry are well documented where he brought a fresh energy and bespoke financial services with Devcom Merchant Bank and Equatorial Trust Bank (ETB) which later merged into Sterling Bank.

Man flowing with Milk of Human Kindness

The humanitarian side of this famous Nigerian billionaire is incomparable. Although, coming from a middle-class family, Dr. Mike Adenuga’s (Jnr.) academic sojourn in the United States of America and the everyday life lessons internalized from his parents, Chief Michael Agbolade Adenuga (Snr) and Madam Oyindamola Adenuga, shaped his worldview and brought out his humane side in the way he deals with people and businesses.

He has been a major supporter of sports, especially football (Nigerian national teams). He has massively sponsored the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards for many years. He was honoured the title of Pillar of Football in Africa for his strong support for African Football at both national and continental. He has quietly rendered support to many without seeking media attention.
Through him, Glo sponsors the annual Ojude Oba festival in Ijebuland and also the Ofala festival in Onitsha, Anambra amongst others, promoting Nigeria’s rich culture. He has been major supporting of the Nigerian entertainment industry, turning many Nigerian and Ghanaian actors into instant millionaires through the Glo Ambassador programme.

A lover of education and the arts, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.) through his companies has sponsored several initiatives such as Glo Campus, and offered scholarships to thousands of the downtrodden to pursue their academic dreams.

 Humble Beginnings

A man of outstanding wisdom, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.) was born Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga on April 29, 1953 at Ibadan, Oyo State. His father was a school teacher while his mother was an outstanding businesswoman.

Dr. Adenuga (Jnr) is an alumnus of the famous Ibadan Grammar School, North Western State University, Alva Oklahoma; and Pace University, New York, both in the United States of America where he majored in business administration with emphasis in marketing. As a student in the USA, he supported himself with jobs as a taxi driver and security guard.

Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) is a visionary leader, an outstanding entrepreneur and and manager of people and resources. He is a man of uncommon intellect and wisdom have helped him overcome difficult times. Today, he sits atop a vast telecom, oil and gas (Conoil), banking and real estate investments.

As Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr) clocks 72 years on Tuesday April 29th, 2025, SiliconNigeria.ng wishes him a marvelous birthday and many happy returns in good health in the service of the fatherland.

BY LINDA JACOBS, Lagos, Nigeria

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has okayed 37 telecommunications service providers as officially operating in the telecom space in its newly published National Numbering Plan Second Quarter, 2020.   

The Commission also recovered 41, 240,448 million lines that have been left inactive or unused by telecommunications licencees across 36 states of the country over the years following an audit conducted.

National Numbering Plan specifies the format and structure of the numbers used in identifying devices or subscribers connected to a network, which in turn can also be used for routing and call charging.

This new National Numbering Plan list contains the names of approved allottees, their Area, Area Code, Access Code, Numbering Range and Total Lines with which they are operating with.

Investigation by www.siliconnigeria.com.ng revealed that the allottees include: 101 Communications Ltd, 21^st Century Technologies Ltd, Airtel Networks Ltd, Airworld Technologies Ltd, Alpha Technologies Ltd, Big Picture Nigeria Ltd, Broadbased Communications Ltd, CallMe Nigeria Ltd, Cedarview Communications Ltd, Cyberspace Ltd, EMTS Ltd (9mobile), FNL Engineering Ltd, Globacom Ltd, GTS Info Tel Nig Ltd, Intercellular Nig Ltd, Interra Networks Ltd and iPNX Nig Ltd.

Others are: Megatech Engineering Ltd, MTN Nigeria Comm. Ltd (formerly VGC Comm), MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, NATCOMS Dev & Investment Ltd, Reston Communications Services Ltd, Skyway Technology & Services Ltd, Smile Communications Nig Ltd, Spectranet Ltd, Swift Networks Ltd, Swift Telephone Networks Ltd, Telvida International Systems Ltd and Tizeti Network Ltd,

The rest are: TNT Global Technologies Ltd, Vezeti Services Ltd, Visafone Comm Ltd (formerly Cellcom), Visafone Comm Ltd (formerly ITN), Visafone Comm Ltd (formerly Bourdex), Visafone Communications Ltd, Vodacom Business Africa and Voix Networks Limited.

The regulator of the Nigerian telecommunications industry had 33,749,000 lines withdrawn while 7, 491, 448 lines were returned by the former users with effect from June 19, 2020.

NCC had earlier issued a Draft Final Report on the Development of New Number Plan. The Withdrawn/Returned numbers were part of the Commission’s “regular audit in order to ascertain the level of utilization of numbers assigned to operators.”

www.siliconnigeria.com.ng gathered that the phone lines were either inactive, dormant or no longer in use by the assigned telecommunication operators. Many of the telecom licencees were either no longer in operation or have had to realign their business strategy away from the initial demands for the lines.

According to data made available by the Commission on its website, the licencees who had their lines withdrawn include ABG Communications Limited (10,000) for Abuja; Akklaim Telecoms Limited for Abuja (20,000) and Kano (10,000); Allied Bond Standard Coy Ltd (10,000) for Lagos; Alpha Wireless Limited (5,000) for Warri; Bell & Bell (10,000) for Jos.

Others are: BIG Communications Ltd (10,000) Makurdi; Broadband Technologies Ltd (10,000) Lagos; Cecil-Dolton Nigeria Ltd Lagos (8,000); Chromecomm Ltd (formerly Monarch Communications Ltd) Lagos (15,000), Abuja (5,000) and Port Harcourt (5,000); Cyancomm Ltd (formerly MTS 1^st Wireless Ltd) Lagos (100,000), Ibadan (10,000), Abuja (20,000), Abeokuta (5,000), Onitsha (10,000), Aba (10,000), Port Harcourt (20,000).

NCC withdrew from Digital Telecoms Nig Ltd Lagos (6,000); Disc Communications Ltd Lagos (7,000) and Port Harcourt (3,000); Electronics Comms. Inc., Lagos (70,000); Eltel Communications Lagos (5,000); EM-International Systems Ltd Lagos (10,000); Envision Global Reach Nig. Ltd, Abuja (5,000); Fybertel Comms. (Nigeria) Ltd, Lagos (10,000); GiCell Wireless Ltd, Ibadan (20,000), Ilorin (20,000), Yola (20,000), Maiduguri (20,000), Calabar (20,000); Horizons Broadcasting & Telecoms, Kano (2,000).

Also withdrawn lines came from Imperial Telecoms Ltd, Lagos, (10,000); Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja (10,000); Integrated Mobile Services, Lagos (10,000), Abuja (10,000); Integrated Wireles Tech Nig. Ltd, Lagos (5,000); Magenta Communications Ltd Onitsha (5,000), Port Harcourt (5,000); Mobitel Limited, Lagos (10,000), Abuja (10,000), Warri (10,000) and Port Harcourt (10,000); M-Tel Communications Limited, National (27,500); Multi-Links Telecommunications Ltd, Lagos (400,000), Ibadan (60,000), Abuja (50,000), Ilorin (20,000), Oshogbo (10,000), Ile-Ife (20,000), Ijebu-Ode (15,000), Abeokuta (10,000), National 11,000,000); Multiple Services Ltd, Lagos (10,000); and NAVAO Ltd, Lagos (10,000).

Also, withdrawn were lines from Odu’a Telecoms Limited, Omar Communications Limited, Orprah Communications Ltd, Peace Global Satellite Communications Ltd, Prest Cable& Satellite TV Sys Ltd, Q-Voda Telecom, Rainbownet Ltd, Regal Telecom Ltd, Royal Strides Telecom Ltd, Sadasa Communications Ltd, Shell Petroleum Dev Coy of Nig Ltd, Sky Broadband Ventures Ltd (formerly Direct On PC), Skyview-O Nig Ltd, Syntel I.G. Wills Communications, Starcomms Plc, Startech Connections (Witel Ltd), Sunmail Telecoms,  T-Comms Nig. Ltd, TELCO Africa Ltd, Telefonics Networks (thorst) Ltd, Topcom Nig Ltd, Vitel Wireless, WAK Telecommunications Ltd, Webcom Ltd, Wideways Nig Ltd, Wireless Telecoms Ltd, Woldscope Ventures Ltd, XPT Link Ltd, Yemshba Investment Ltd, and Zoom Mobile (Reliance Telecom Ltd).

Among those returned are: Galaxy Info Tech & Telecoms Ltd, Dutse (10,000); GTS Infotel Nig Ltd, National (10,000); Megatech Engineering Ltd, Kano (10,000). Other numbering plans running into millions by Nigeria Telecommunications Ltd and Visafone Communications Ltd.

… Set for 2^nd term confirmation this week

The Senate Committee on Communications led by Distinguished Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has commended the outstanding performance of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in the last five years.

The lawmakers screened Nigeria’s Telecom Regulator last week Wednesday at the Senate Chambers when he appeared before the Senate Screening Committee in Abuja.

SiliconNigeria checks showed that Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta is set to be confirmed by the Senate following his reappointment by the President for another five-year term in office as the country’s chief telecoms regulator.

A statement signed Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, NCC stated during the screening, Danbatta, who demonstrated his deep knowledge of the industry, extensively discussed his scorecard since he assumed office as the EVC of NCC on August 4, 2015, following which the Committee members applauded him for his sterling performance and exceptional leadership qualities which, they said had helped in accelerating the growth of the telecoms sector.

Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, a prominent member of the committee, who represented the Chairman of the Senate Screening Committee, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, during the screening, as well as other committee members, including Sen. Sandy Onor, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi, Sen. Bamidele Opeyemi, Sen. Omar Jeff, Sen. Kashim Shettima and Sen. Bukachuwa, commended Danbatta’s impressive performance in piloting the affairs of the country’s digital ecosystem.

Oloriegbe noted that the screening and confirmation exercise is in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 subsections 1 and 4 of the Nigerian Communications Commission Act (NCA), 2003.

Section 8 subsection 1 of the Act states that “…all commissioners to be appointed after the coming into force of this Act shall be appointed by the President in accordance with Section 7 of this Act, from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria subject to confirmation by the Senate,” while subsection 4 states that “…commissioners shall serve for a term of 5 years from the date of their appointment at the expiration of which the President may renew the term for a further period of 5 years and no more.”

Danbatta, who gave convincing accounts of his stewardship in the last five years, said the diligent implementation of NCC’s auspicious strategic 8-Point Agenda, which he put in place when he assumed office in 2015, provided the basis for most of the Commission’s achievements in the last five years, especially in the areas of service availability, accessibility and affordability.

The EVC reeled outstanding achievements under him in the past five years and provided  relevant industry and macro-economic statistics to illuminate his efforts and strides in the areas of the sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Quality of Service (QoS) delivery, broadband infrastructure deployment, broadband penetration, effective spectrum utilisation, consumer empowerment, technology innovation as well as the Commission’s efforts with respect to curbing fraudulent Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration and 112 Emergency Number towards ridding the country of insecurity, among others.

Danbatta thanked the lawmakers for their support over the last five years and pledged his renewed commitment to further accelerate the growth of the telecoms industry as the key driver of the country’s digital economy vision over the next five years.

“As a Commission, we are committed to challenging our current achievements. Consequently, we are poised to work more with the National Assembly and other necessary stakeholders in order to ensure we take Mr. President’s digital agenda for the country to the next level in the next five years.”

Meanwhile, the Committee will report the outcome of the screening exercise to the Senate Committee of the Whole House for confirmation of Danbatta’s reappointment during the next legislative sitting.