A TALE OF 2 BROTHERS

By NBF News

The tale of brothers is as ancient as the Bible. It dates back to the tales of Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, the dreamer and his brothers, David and his brothers. Among brothers, somebody just has to emerge as the star of the family. Because that is the way God wants it.

In Nigeria, there is the tale of great brothers like Moshood and Mubashiru Abiola, the Fela and the Kuti brothers, the Ibru brothers, the Dangote brothers, Dantata brothers, Ibeto, Ilodibe, Izuchukwu and other great and iconic siblings.

In the case of Mike Adenuga who is among the world's richest men, the question of who is the star of the family is not in dispute. His elder brother, Otunba Demola Adenuga is quick to concede, saying: 'Mike is the star of the family. Not just our family but the whole of Nigeria. I see him as my benefactor. I should not be ashamed to say that. He has helped me in all facets of life.'

The age gap between Mike and his big brother is as wide as the 'River Jordan,' a code name coined by the students of Ibadan Grammar School for Ogunpa, the filth-ridden river which they used to cross any time they wanted to sneak into town without permission in those days. By the time Mike came to Ibadan Grammar School as a fresher, his brother, Demola who is six years older, was already a Sixth Former with a nickname 'Ad Belly' which Mike inherited. At school, Demola and Mike shared this identical nickname rooted in their huge frames and big belly as kids.

'Our parents are on the huge side and we picked that,' says Demola. 'Our father was huge and so was our mother. I seem to resemble our father more. I am a carbon copy of my father. Mike is more of my mother. In terms of business acumen and everything, he took after our mum.'

Big brother Demola recalls that when his little brother was born on April 29, 1953, 'he was quite huge' to the point that 'even in the hospital they called him John Bull.'

Mike Agbola Adenuga was overjoyed having another boy. It was something he had been praying and looking forward to. He named the boy Mike after himself. Mike Adenuga Jnr.

So, how come Demola was not named Mike being the first son? And how does he feel today not inheriting Mike Adenuga, the name that is a big brand in the world today?

'I am not called Mike Adenuga Jnr. even though I am the first son,' Demola explains. 'As at the time I was born, the craze then was for people to bear purely Nigerian names. Being the last born, my father felt he should not miss the opportunity of naming his last son after himself. In those days, the trend was for my father's parents to name their grandchildren. It was after the death of our grandparents that he had the privilege of choosing names of his children. And that was how Mike carried that name.'

From an early age, Mike, according to his brother, had 'always wanted to excell in everything, be it fashion, be it anything, he always excelled.' He recalls how their mother returned from England with some ladies handbags and Mike sold more bags than all of his three sisters and brother. 'He also made extra money, because there is no fixed price in the Nigerian market. He has always shown that trait. Business has always been in his blood right from childhood. The entrepreneurial spirit has always been with him. Right from youth, my brother has been very adventurous.'

Because of his adventurous nature, he was the first in the family to know how to drive after the father. 'Not that my parents gave him the permission to learn how to drive,' says Otunba Demola Adenuga, 'but he knows how to twist the driver's hand to get the key. All the drivers loved him. They would cover him up. They all taught him how to drive. And that driving was what helped him to settle down quickly in the US where he became a cab driver.'

At school, Demola remembers his kid brother as an outgoing student who was intelligent but a bit rascally. 'As his brother, I was able to protect and keep an eye on him. But then people love him, because he dresses very well. He saves his money to buy fashionable wears. As the last born, our mother used to spoil him with money. He was the one who introduced me to a fashionable boutique in Ibadan called Hi Mother where they stocked good materials for shirts and trousers. He also introduced me to Esquire, another boutique where they sold finished products. Even though he was my junior, he had that influence on me. Even today, we still have to copy his perfumes and he often buy me gifts like gold watches and stuff like that.'

He might be his brother's leader and influence in the realm of fashion, but in academics, Mike looked up to his brother as a role model whom he wanted to emulate him. 'When I was admitted into the university to read biochemistry, that fired his imagination,' his brother reveals. 'He wanted to go to the university too, but not here in Nigeria. America was on his mind. His friends were in America and he wanted to join them there. And he left for America to study. When he came back from America, I was already a full manager with Nigerian Breweries. That also propelled him to work harder. He told our mum: 'Your son is already a full manager in Nigerian Breweries, you must really launch me very well.''

Ironically, the mother initially did not want Mike to go to America. She prefered him going to University of Ibadan like his brother. But Mike had made up his mind. At a point, the mother had to report him to a Commissioner of Police in Ibadan by name, Chief Adeniji. Instead of rebuking Mike, the police boss told the mum: 'When you son shows traits like this, it is the hand of God. Maybe fate is beckoning on him to go into that direction.'

'It was Chief Adeniji who pleaded with our parents to give him the money to go to America,' reveals the brother. 'In America, he wasn't receiving any money from home. He suffered a lot there and those suffering prepared him for what role he is now playing. Because nothing comes by so easily.'

On the key to his brother's successes, Demola sees an unseeing hand of God directing his brother like the biblical Joseph. 'Most of his breaks, you can see is the hand of God. And that has taught me a lesson in life. In the paths of life, the hand of God is always there. From him, I have learnt not to envy people, because if I see Mike, I know it is God that has been propelling him.'

He might be a billionaire's brother but Demola is a picture of simplicity and humility which is something he shares in common with his famous brother. Every statement he makes is punctuated by 'sir, sir, sir.' He is that courteous and respectful. If you are expecting him to be dressed in opulence, he is wearing a simple ankara dress. He might not be as rich as his brother, but he is not complaining. 'With all modesty, all the Adenuga brother and sisters are comfortable,' he says. 'Even all our children are comfortable. I have three children. One is a dentist. The remaining two are lawyers.'

All the three children work for their father who is a 'very big dealer of Glo.' The fact that his children have abandoned their trade to work for their dad is an indication that Mike has 'positioned me very well in the society.'

As his brother clocks another birthday next Friday, he is full of prayers for God to bless him with long life, good health and peace of mind. 'People have a lot of misconceptions about who Mike Adenuga really is,' he says. He believes our forthcoming biography, MIKE ADENUGA: AFRICA'S BUSINESS GURU would shed light on his enigmatic brother who, like Joseph, has lived and fulfilled his big dreams. A brother who is a proof to the saying that once you can dream it, you can achieve it. A brother who has conquered the difficult terrains of oil exploration and became the first Nigerian to find oil and sell it in commercial quantity. A brother who fought like a boxer in the ring, toe to toe with President Obasanjo until he got his telecoms licence that was denied him. A brother whose can-do spirit is the fire behind the phenomenal rise of brand Glo-the revolutionary brand made in Nigeria.

To the Guru, I say happy birthday on April 29!