President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, last Sunday paid a private visit to Nigeria and seized the opportunity to laud the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. (GCON), for what he described as his ”bold foray into the business landscape of Ghana when only foreigners dominated the telecommunications sector of the country”
He made the remarks in the wee hours of Monday in Lagos whileresponding to his induction into the Ovation Hall of Fame . The induction was one of the highlights of the 2016 Ovation Green Carol sponsored by Globacom.
According to him, Adenuga’s investment in the country has imputed values into the sector which was hitherto regarded as the exclusive preserve of foreign investors, adding that this is a testimonial of the business guru’s ”raw courage and great audacity”. This was why “our nation recently conferred Ghana’s highest award of theCompanion of the Star of Ghana (CSG) on Adenuga”, he explained.
Said he, “Dr. Mike Adenuga is one African who had broken through in telecommunications and entrepreneurship as a whole. From my experience since I was a DeputyCommunications Minister and later Communication Minister, the industry was dominated by foreign companies until Dr. Adenuga came with his submarine cables and innovations. That was why we recently presented him with the highest award. It is good to honour our foremost business people”.
Referring to his recent loss at the Ghanaian polls, Mahama waxed philosophical: “while I might feel disappointed that Ghanaians did not see what I was trying to do, the will of the people must be respected. In four years time, there will be another election and the people will speak. Let the narrative be that Africa is developed. I have moved on and will hand over on January 7th”, he said.
He also gave kudos to the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, whose 24th wedding anniversary fell on the date, for his giant strides in the last 20 years of publishing Ovation Magazine as well as the success of the ninth edition of the Ovation Carol. Chief Momodu, he noted, is “a pan-Africanist, a passionate believer in democracy, a patriot and a comrade.”
Globacom’s Commercial Coordinator, Enterprise Business Group, Mr. Folu Aderibigbe, who represented the company at the event said Globacom’s collaboration with the organisers of the carol was indicative of the unflinching love the company nurses for the people.
Aderibigbe quipped, “From the per second billing which made telecommunications services accessible to all, to our numerous firsts culminating lately, to the speed of life, the Glo 4G LTE, we have always ensured provision of quality products at affordable rates to our esteemed subscribers. This is our bond with Nigerians and we assure you that we will never renege on this”.
“It is also for this reason that we have continued to partner with laudable initiatives like the Ovation Carol, an international star-studded musical fiesta organized to return thanks to the Almighty for His numerous mercies in the out-going year,” he added.
Juju Maestro, King Sunny Ade was equally inducted into the Ovation Hall of Fame while the Family of OJB Jezreeland a youth dance group,Cymbals Dance Crew were honoured with cash awards. Similarly, a Ghanaian, Mr. Richard McCarthy who was recognised for taking kids off the streets of Ghana by encouraging them to channel their energies to boxing also went home with a cash sum of N500,000.
Top artistes who graced the occasion including King Sunny Ade, Flvour, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Niniola and Simi among others, gave good accounts of themselves at the event. Legendary American hip hop group, Cameo, performed live with a full band in Africa for the first time. The group successfully took attendees down memory lane with evergreen tunes such as ‘Single’, and “Attack Me With Your Love”.