At the coming of the era of mobile telephony with the launch of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) into the country by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2001, a telephony-starved Nigerian population was so hungry for the service that they literally jumped at the opportunity with little or no protection for the consumer. We needed it and would do anything just to have it. And that we procured at a very high cost to us.
Twenty-two years after its launch in Nigeria, the telecommunication sector has remained the biggest driver of the nation’s economy. It’s impossible to think of any aspect of human life that is not touched or influenced one way or the other by telecommunications.
The rapid evolution of mobile telephony which ended the monopoly of the telecommunication company, Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) also contributed to the death of this government agency. The success of the telecommunications sector has continued to remain the reference point for success in liberalisation and privatisation of the nation’s economy, which would help in cutting public sector inefficiency and waste, provide greater scope to the private sector, attract more investments, bring in new technologies and ultimately place the nation on the trajectory to development.
It is difficult to think now that Nigerians once paid as much as N25,000 or more just to procure a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, or to think that once upon a time for every call made even if it was for 10 seconds one was billed N50 for one minute. Or that a lot of people found it cheaper to visit nearby kiosks and roadside vendors to make calls rather than load their phones because it was a big deal then to do that.
Thanks to billionaire businessman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, whose foray into the telecommunications sphere dramatically changed the narrative, making ordinary Nigerians who for many years have been made to think that telephone was not for the poor, to celebrate the fact that not only is one of their own a major player, but he also cares for them.
Globacom’s entry into the telecommunications sector on August 29, 2003, revolutionised the industry by flooding the market with the cheapest SIM cards, thus empowering the Nigerian masses with what used to be the exclusive preserve of the elite.
Adenuga’s Globacom, today, embodies the resilience and can-do spirit of the Nigerian. The company, despite joining the fray after two years of the coming of GSM, has risen to be a giant in the industry on the continent with footprints in four countries in West Africa, namely Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Glo’s success calls for celebration and that celebration they had on Saturday, November 26, to mark what is clearly a milestone in the history of telecommunications in Nigeria.
The company rolled out the drums and spared no expense to celebrate its life-transforming impact on the Nigerian telecommunications landscape. It also used the occasion to give a glimpse into its plans for the years ahead.
It capped the event with stellar musical performances from Chike and Asake, the company’s newly signed ambassadors at Eko Hotels and Suite in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Bella Disu, Executive Vice Chairman, in his remark said that Globacom was celebrating two decades of its commitment to excellent service delivery, quality, innovation, and outstanding communication strategies.
“This remarkable journey and the heights we’ve reached are all thanks to the visionary leadership and tenacity of our founder and Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr.
“You’ll agree with me that the current pace of digital transformation is far quicker than what it was when Globacom started. What was once deemed impossible is now the norm. As a digital solutions provider, we embrace these unlimited opportunities to serve our customers by constantly investing in the latest tools and technology.
“Tonight, we are thrilled to unveil a new communication direction that focuses more on powering and driving ambition, while ensuring success for our existing and future customers. These creative campaigns will undoubtedly inspire accolades for our hardworking Marketing Communications team. They deserve it, but I’ll let you in on a secret – The creative genius steering us and whipping up most of these ideas is none other than the great guru himself, our Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. I’m not sure he would have wanted me to share that, but after 20 years of his creative direction, I think it’s fair to let the cat out of the bag!,” Disu said.
Disu said the occasion was to acknowledge those who had been with Glo every step of the way, stressing that their contributions have been essential to Globacom’s success story over the past two decades.
“We are excited about the next 20 years of serving our customers by pre-empting and fulfilling their needs in ways that help them to achieve their ambitions. We count on you all to be by our side as we write tomorrow’s success stories.”
Welcoming guests earlier at the evening event, Globacom’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs. Bella Disu, said the event was special for Globacom due to the fact that the company clocked 20 years in August.
“We’re incredibly proud of this feat, which symbolises two decades of our commitment to excellent service delivery, quality, innovation, and outstanding communication strategies. This remarkable journey and the heights we’ve reached are all thanks to the visionary leadership and tenacity of our founder and Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr.,” she said.
“Tonight, we are thrilled to unveil a new communication direction that focuses more on powering and driving ambition, while ensuring success for our existing and future customers.”
She acknowledged the excellent relationship Globacom has had with its partners and stakeholders who had been with Glo every step of the way, noting that their “contributions have been essential to Globacom’s success story over the past two decades”.
The company promised that it would play a bigger role in contributing to the success stories of its customers in the immediate future. It is targeting new tools to aid big businesses, SMEs, and start-ups.
She said Glo is focused on powering ambitions with a strong conviction that “when the ambitions of Nigerians thrive, Nigeria too rises to the heights of her ambitions.
“The company, as part of its focus, is targeting companies to outsource their non-core business functions to Globacom so that they can focus on their core competencies and excel in them. Globacom already has a team that can provide customised solutions to meet specific requirements, she said.
The very entertaining evening had Arinze Baba, Gordons, Chike and Asake entertaining the audience with jokes and music. But before that, the company took time to introduce a new communication direction, which focuses more on “empowerment” and “fulfilling ambition” for individuals, SMEs, and big businesses.
Gordons, who was the master of ceremony, doubled up to entertain guests with a series of rib-cracking jokes, with several of them coming on the spur of the moment.
Glo ambassador, Chike, bedecked in a colourful shade of green, serenaded the crowd with several songs, paving the way for Asake, another Glo ambassador to bring the event to a close.
Asake, who was a clear and hot favourite of most of the guests present at the event, took his music off the stage and interacted well with guests on the floor, a large number of whom danced and sang along with him.
So, what does the next 20 years hold? Mrs. Bella Disu expressed the forward disposition of the company: “We are excited about the next 20 years of serving our customers by pre-empting and fulfilling their needs in ways that help them to achieve their ambitions. We count on you all to be by our side as we write tomorrow’s success stories.”
In all, it was a great night courtesy of Globacom and many guests were lavish in praise of the company for the opportunity.
Earlier, the same Saturday, the company had hosted the media at a press conference where it regaled them with its success stories over the past two decades. The liberating efforts of Globacom cannot be ignored in the annals of Nigerian telecommunications history.
Remi Makinde, Chief Technical Officer, Rollout, said Glo it was, that ensured Nigerians were freed from exploitative treatment by other operators when it launched per second billing from its first commercial call. The company literally democratised telecommunications services, ensuring accessibility for all Nigerians by crashing the cost of SIM acquisition from N25,000 to N100.
According to Makinde, “The company also introduced a series of firsts in Nigeria including pioneering Blackberry services in the country and was the first to launch 3G in Nigeria.
“Globacom’s contribution to Nigeria is the personal dream of a living legend, an accomplished and astute businessman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, a man who towers above all in his commitment to Nigeria. His focus on investing in Nigeria and empowering Nigerians earned him a well-deserved highest civilian national award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).”
Remi Makinde, noted that as a digital solutions provider, Globacom has had to constantly respond to meeting the challenge of helping Nigerians to achieve their personal and business successes through huge investments in technology and tools. He added that the company is deploying thousands of kilometres of optic fibre across the country to strengthen the existing coverage to provide better and seamless services to its customers nationwide.
In all, what Dr. Adenuga has achieved by placing Nigeria on the global telecommunications space as a digital solutions provider speaks eloquently of the inherent potential of the average Nigerian, proving the fact that with little support and the enabling environment, Nigerians can achieve great things and do wonders.
Congratulations to Globacom and also those driving the company as they deservedly celebrate 20 years of tenacity, hard work, and excellence.
