Dr Adenuga's 8 Business Lessons for Nigerian Entrepreneurs
Dr Mike Adenuga, Jr, chairman of Globacom and Nigeria's business titan, turns 73 on April 29. Beyond his trillion-dollar empire spanning oil, telecom, aviation, and real estate, he offers timeless wisdom in his 1993 treatise 'Achieving.' Eight lessons emerge for Nigerian entrepreneurs: First, cultivate 'achieving' as an attitude—resolve, persistence, and consistency. Second, aspire beyond second place; leadership is obsession, not vanity. Third, strategy determines destiny, not luck—enter the arena with clear plans like Glo's disruptive Per Second Billing model that rewired Nigeria's telecom market. Fourth, build for futures unseen, as seen in his Glo-1 submarine cable that powers Nigeria's digital transformation. Fifth, master strategic advantage—outmaneuver competitors rather than imitate them. Sixth, build winning teams, sparring no cost to attract and retain top talent while rejecting mediocrity. Seventh, delegate but never disconnect—maintain hands-on involvement. Eighth, let humanity temper ambition—true success carries moral responsibility to contribute meaningfully to society through responsible philanthropy.