Nigerians started seeing full page color adverts in national dailies commending Glo boss Chief Mike Adenuga for being honored with the French distinguished medal by President Emmanuel Macron during his recent state visit. However, many did not know for what reason.
Mike Adenuga Newsmakers gathered from reliable sources that the Globacom boss got the highest French honor of commander of the Legion of Honor for rebuilding the French Cultural Center otherwise known as Alliance De Francaise on Alfred Rewane Road Ikoyi Lagos all by himself.
The idea of the rebuilding of the French edifice which acted as a receptacle for French cultural activities and relationships with Nigeria was said to have been muted by Adenuga’s daughter Mrs. Bella Disu whose relationship with France has been on for a long time.
Insiders say Bella sought the support of her generous dad who agreed to foot the bill of the reconstruction effort.
She is also said to have supervised and coordinated the reconstruction work of the edifice commissioned by French President in the presence of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and other distinguished Nigerians.
Chief Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr, GCON is a Nigerian billionaire businessman described as the second-richest person in Nigeria. His company Globacom is Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator, and has a presence in Ghana and Benin Republic.
At the commissioning, Macron described Adenuga as a “role model for Africa”.