Of course, we have conveniently forgotten that Adenuga has been seeking refuge in
his country this past months.

A preliminary perusal of the Senate Report on the PTDF excites both commendation and questions. There are grey areas which the full Senate has to delve into. A parliamentary committee report, when laid before the chamber, still has no life. The circulation and debate of the report is the next stage. The report can either be killed or confirmed by the Senate in full session. There could be amendments here and there and much more importantly, lobbying and counter-lobbying will determine what will eventually happen to the report.

A very commendable aspect of the report is the deserved clearance given to Otunba Mike Adenuga, the Bill Gates of our time. The report exonerated Globacom, the leader in Africa’s telecommunications industry. This is clearly justice delivered without fear or favour and with an eye on the need to build Nigeria as the leading nation, not only in black Africa, but across the entire continent.

Globacom, Nigeria’s second national carrier, is about to spread its network to Ghana in its quest to dominate the GSM market in which it now has about 12 million subscribers.

Ghanaian President, John Kuffour, said at the CAF Awards at the weekend that he would provide Globacom a conducive environment to operate, which was interpreted to mean approval for it to roll out any moment from now.

Extending its services to Ghana and, eventually to other parts of Africa, will project Globacom well – beyond Nigeria, its base, where it is making good money, and competing neck and neck with MTN that already has a continental outlay.

But Nigeria, with a population of 140 million, remains the largest market for any operator. Ghana’s population is 21 million.

Globacom Executive Director, Okon Iyanam, explained in Accra at the weekend (after the CAF Awards sponsored by Globacom) that the roll out plan, which has been in the pipeline for a long while, will now be activated as the company is ready to extend to the continent.

Kuffour heaped praises on Globacom for its support for African youths and, in particular, soccer.

He said Ghana is keen to see the company extend its business frontiers into its domain.

Globacom will have to compete with four networks in Ghana, none of which operates its per second billing system.

They are Areeba, One Touch, and two others.

Globacom Sponsorship Manager, Harry Iwuala, said apart from a near perfect business climate in Ghana, his company would provide incentives for the Ghanaian populace.

The hi-tech equipment being imported from the United States through the Globacom-Alcatel partnership will be deployed.

"We are determined to get the best of networks in Nigeria, and indeed Africa. Sports, especially football, has been one of our reach out points; we won’t and can’t fail this generation," Iyanam stated.

President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., for his contributions to the development of football on the African continent.
In an address read on his behalf by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Bala Ka’oje, at the Glo/CAF Awards in Accra, Ghana, the President stated that Adenuga and the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, deserved special commendation for their role in youth development.
“They have both dedicated themselves to further uniting the nations of Africa through the instrumentality of the meaningful engagement of our youths, the expansion of communication capacities, and employment opportunities for all Africans,” Obasanjo said.
President Obasanjo noted that limitless possibilities existed for the African continent if the organised private sector emulated Adenuga and Hayatou in “partnering with the various governments in the development of sports infrastructure and the creation of enabling environment for the development of the generality of sports in Africa.”
He expressed delight in associating with the Glo/CAF Awards which he said celebrates nobility, gracefulness and unique productive capacity of the youth of Africa.

Nigeria’s second national operator in telecoms, Globacom has said it has concluded plans to ensure that its subscribers enjoy uninterrupted network service.

More subscribers have also won mouth-watering prizes in its on-going N750 recharge seasons Recharge promotion. Eight people are now proud owners of brand new Honda Accord i-vtec cars courtesy of the promo. While four won in Benin another four won in Nsukka, Enugu State.

The Benin regional manager of the company, Mr. Roy Olaiya said Globacom hold its customers in high regard hence it is still rewarding them, adding that the promo which commenced December 2006 has been extended till the end of this month.

Olaiya spoke during the Benin regional draw of the promo.

At the draw, four lucky winners, including a building contractor, Mr. Emmanuel Osunobor, emerged winners and went home with a brand new Honda Accord i-vtec 2006 model saloon car, each.

The regional manager in his welcome address described the promo as one of the best the company had done in recent time, saying that Globacom was more than ever determined to take Nigerians to the next level.

Olaiya pointed out that in the last three years, Globacom has achieved over 90 per cent of its coverage target with over 12 million subscribers’ base and unrivalled network quality. He assured its subscribers of qualitative service and rewarding relationship with the customers.

In his acceptance speech, one of the star winners, Osunobor thanked management of Globacom for making the promo real and called on other Nigerians to patronize the company.

Other winners at the draw included Mr. Cypril Egharevba from Eleme, Rivers State, Peter Diopa Warri, and Mr. Nwanjede Sunny from Asaba, Delta State.

Meanwhile a first year media radiography student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and three other subscribers, during the week became the latest winners of brand new Honda Accord i-vtec (2006 model) cars in the Glo N750 Seasons Recharge Promotion.

The student, 19-year-old Obi Chukwuemeka Anderson, Chinasa Abigail Okedum with number 0805 5812019, Femi Atoyebi as well as Sokari Kate emerged winners in an electronic draw held for subscribers in the Enugu Region at Zodiac Hotel, Enugu.

Their numbers were selected from subscribers in the region who recharged their phones with the special N750 recharge card denomination within the commencement of the promotion on December 1 last year and the draw date.

The four cars are part of the 40 Honda Accord cars which Globacom is offering to prepaid subscribers in the promotion. Other regions where subscribers have won the car prizes include Lagos , Abuja , Port Harcourt , Benin and Kano .

When called on phone from the venue of the draw and informed of the development, the lucky subscribers had mixed reactions. Atoyebi replied angrily, "Please, I am at work. I don’t have time for all this joke," and switched off his phone. Anderson reacted in a similar manner, asking "How do you want me to believe you? I don’t believe you please."

For the other two winners, however, their initial doubts gave way when they heard the loud clapping of the audience at the background. "Oh my God, I am in church. Ooh thank God oo. Thank God oo," Okedum screamed. Sokari, after some silence at her end of the line, asked: "Motor, me win motor? Where do I get it, now?"

Speaking before the draws, Globacom’s Enugu Regional Manager, Kehinde Bangudu, said Globacom has through unprecedented promotion shown its commitment to improving the quality of lives of its subscribers and Nigerians as a whole.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to our subscribers for their amazing support and patronage. Globacom acknowledges the goodwill and tremendous support it has enjoyed from Nigerians since 2003 when it began operations", Bangudu told the large audience which included subscribers, dealers, government officials, business executives, students and market women. The regional manager added that Globacom would continue to empower Nigerians to rule their world.

Bangudu also reassured the doubting winners and guests at the draw that their doubts would disappear at the prize presentation which would be held next week.

Also speaking after the draws, the special guest of honour and Commissioner for Health in Enugu State, Dr. C Uzoh, commended Globacom for its unmatched customer-reward packages.

"I had before now been hearing about the promotion on radio, but today, I have become a witness. I can confirm that it is real. The process of arriving at the winners is free, fair and transparent", the commissioner noted.

"Glo has changed a lot of things in the communication industry. They pioneered Per Second Billing which has so far been the most innovative in telecoms in Nigeria . They also reduced call tariffs and cost of GSM lines and I commend them for what they have done for Nigerians, Uzoh said.

Billed as the occasion of the year, the Globacom-CAF African Football Awards ceremony in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, penultimate Thursday, could have been better-packaged. In the end the stage management skills of comperes, Mariam Toure and Gerry Rantselai helped. And, of course, the exhilarating performance of Yvonne Machaka (Chaka Chaka).

The opening was perfect, and the distinguished guests inside the Accra International Conference Center had no reason to fear that it could be less than the spectacle that we all saw in Abuja last year. But somehow, certain things failed to key in properly, and what we had was a moderate show.

Mariam Toure, from Mali, and Gerry Rantselai, from South Africa, were no Tom and Jerry. If they were, it would have been bad for night.
Globacom has done so much for the game of football in Nigeria and the whole of Africa, in only 43 months of operation, and has set very high standards for themselves in every area, that you would expect True Colours, the event managers from South Africa, to know what to package for them. The Accra show was lacking in proper planning in some areas.

There was nothing wrong about Globacom chairman. Dr Mike Adenuga’s opening message, which dwelt on Globacom’s faith in the future of the African game, the fact that “Africa is where the best players in the world are made”, and the giant strides that Nigeria’s second carrier has made, with 11 million subscribers in just more than three years of operation. Ghana’s Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Papa Owusu-Ankomah. followed by admitting that choosing Ghana as venue was in recognition of the giant strides that the country has made in African football.

Grammy Award winners, Soweto Gospel Choir, were led in performance by Yvonne Machaka, who truly captivated the auditorium with hit single ‘Quixobotin’. Then, CAF President, Issa Hayatou, congratulated Ghana for celebrating Golden Jubilee as an independent nation the same year CAF is celebrating 50 years, and disclosed that CAF handed Dr Adenuga the Gold Order of Merit because of his noble and enviable contributions to African football. He also congratulated President John Kufour for his election as chairman of the African Union.

It would have been great if the momentum was maintained, but then, few people people began to overstay their welcome. An awards ceremony is not one for long speeches and one person taking the stage for too long. It gets boring. Nigeria’s Minister/Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Engineer Bala Ka’oje, led the way. He might have meant well with his speech that was preceded by President Obasanjo’s speech, but the organizers paid for two hours of quality showpiece for TV and not for long talk. He also did not realize the right time to quit. Ghanaian musician, Batman Samini, was also guilty of same, ensuring that he achieved his aim of shaking hands with President Kufour.

Globacom’s Yinka Olafimihan, who read Dr Adenuga’s speech, was equally guilty, and his attempt to read a French version met with a stoic verbal resistance that swept him off stage. But, it was good he realized it was time to quit.

Apart from too-long-a-letter, the two other issues that undermined the night were ‘no-famous-names’ and ‘winner-takes-all’. It was winner-takes-all, because we were only told the winners in each category, not the second or third. It would also have helped if someone took it upon himself to compile names of the famous personalities who were in the hall, and hand this over to the comperes for proper recognition of some of the greatest names in African football, art and culture.

Nigeria’s legendary musician, King Sunny Ade, was there, as well as legendary footballer, Olusegun Odegbami. Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen, and Samson Siasia, as well as famous administrators from far and near, were all buried in anonymity.

Recognition for President Kufour, Vice President, Aliu Mahama, CAF President, Issa Hayatou, and a mention of ‘board of governors’ of CAF, was all that we had.
Nigerian musician, Lagbaja, failed to come in with his hit song, and dragged on without inspiring the auditorium. Machaka came back and lifted spirits once more. “I’m 41 but I still feel like a teenager”, she told me when I approached her at the end. I agreed with her.

One more. How did they manage to leave out the Supporters Club of the Year award entirely, even when it was on the programme? And who was that fellow who ‘gatecrashed’ onto the comperes’ dias to announce Hossam Hassan as the Inter-Club Player of the Year, when he was actually to present the award?
Next time, we should have shorter and fewer speeches, recognition of famous names, musicians who will live the auditorium enraptured, order of votes for each category and more razzmatazz. That’s what a spectacle is about.

Nigeria's new Technical Adviser, Mr. Berti Vogts will on Thursday, March 15 be unveiled to the nation's football stakeholders by Globacom Limited, the Official Partner to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and Sponsor of the Super Eagles. The ceremony scheduled to hold at the Mike Adenuga Towers, corporate headquarters of Globacom, will also mark the formal handing over of the German coach to the NFA by the company.

Vogts is expected in Abuja today and will on Wednesday, pay a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Hon. Engr Bala Bawa Kaoje in his office at the Federal Secretariat Complex. The coach will also be a guest at the Globacom regional headquarters in Abuja.


"Part of the itinerary of the coach in Abuja will include a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister and a visit to the Gloworld office in Abuja. He will also be shown his official residence in Abuja after the tour of our office", revealed a Globacom official.

"In Lagos on Thursday, Vogts will be formally presented to the public at a media briefing that will

also mark a formal handover to the NFA. In the evening of Thursday, he will be treated to dinner with a select number of important football stake-holders in attendance. We are going this length because we want the German to experience our hospitality and positive disposition to visitors", added the official.


Vogts, whose engagement by Nigeria was sealed at a contract signing ceremony in London is arriving the country to take charge of the Super Eagles in the

Nations Cup qualifying match against Uganda on March 24. The match will take place in Abeokuta.

"We want Nigerians to support the coach and players because the country cannot afford not to be at the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup after the last absence at the World Cup. This is the time for all Nigerians to unite again behind our football to set it on the track for South Africa 2010".

Big B1:

Oh yes, it is very important for one to makesure that the inside is clean before cleaning the outside.

Believe me, in this case the both inside and out side are extremely clean.

why is the man not presently in the country?