The Private Life Of A World Class Nigerian Billionaire, Dr Mike Adenuga

Take a sneak into the Naija based, World class
billionaire’s lifestyle,Dr. Mike Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga,
Jr., the Chairman of Globacom and Conoil, is not your
regular billionaire. The man is simply in a world and
class of his own – strange, unusual and eccentric.
Sources who know him very well told Yes
International, that he hates to play the second fiddle.
“Adenuga loves to rule his world and dominate his
environment…he also doesn’t like being taken
unawares and enjoys being in charge totally”.
Dissecting him further, the sources said: “His appetite
for work is out of this world and that is why at 1am,
2am, 3am, you can still find him in the office working;
sometimes all alone all alone. Most of his key staffers
like Bode Opeseitan and co don’t have any closing
time. The man can call them up at any time and
summon them to the office. But he compensates
them immeasurably for this. He knows all his key
staffers by name. Not only that, no major staff can be
employed in any of his companies without his input.
He must see the person before the final decision can
be taken.
“You may describe this as queer, but Adenuga
doesn’t pick his calls.
Even letters are not accepted in his office, no matter
where they are coming from. All his calls must pass
through someone before getting to him. You can’t
just reach him on the phone directly. One of his oldest
staffers, Nora, from Sierra Leone, usually serves as
the link between him and whoever he wants to
establish contact with or talk to. She’s the person
that takes his calls most times. You equally don’t
remind him of anything. He does his things at his
own time”.
Rarely seen in public, Adenuga, sometimes, doesn’t
even attend his own events – no matter how
important and who and who have been invited. “He
hardly laughs outside, but in the midst of his friends,
you will see him rolling in laughter. He has only a
handful of friends – and in that category are Otunba
Niyi Adewunmi, a long time pal whom he has made a
Director in some of his companies; former military
President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); erstwhile
Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; ex-Abia
Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; one-time Minister of
Police Affairs, General David Jemibewon (rtd) and
Senator Tunde Ogbeha.
He’s so, so close to Ogbeha, because I remember
vividly that on Monday, October 22, 2000, he
personally drove to the airport (here in Ikeja) to pick
up Ogbeha. But you know he hadn’t become this big
and popular then; but that is to tell you how close
they are. And during any of his rare public
appearances, the man won’t smile, won’t eat, won’t
drink and will usually keep to himself, with his
bodyguards keeping watch and ensuring that no
intruderintruder comes close. “However, any time he
wants to enjoy himself, he goes for champagne and
Chinese food. There’s this particular Chinese
restaurant that he normally goes to in VI; not too far
from his office”.
A very, very intriguing character, YES
INTERNATIONAL! gathered that Adenuga, GCON, likes
his women busty and fleshy. His second wife, Titi is a
good example. His path and that of the 51-year-old
mother of two (Shade and Adeniyi) crossed during her
NYSC programme (after graduating from OAU, Ile-Ife)
at Adenuga’s bank. This was years after his first
marriage to Bolaji Marquis ended on an unpleasant
note – after five children – Jide, Bella, Paddy, Oyin
and another.