They were both born, raised and acculturated in Africa.

They both left their motherland, Africa, in search of the elusive golden fleece, driven by their unique aspirations and visions for the future.

After completing their academic pursuits, one returned to the continent of his birth to combine the entirety of his experience with the mystical ingenuity of his Ijebu people to build enduring, multi-generational wealth.

The other chose to remain in the United States, recognizing that pursuing the American dream offered a more exponential path to success than returning to Africa. To contextualize the impact of this choice, the net worth of the wealthiest South African Johann Rupert, is $12.8 billion, while Elon Musk’s net worth is $335.2 billion, the highest in the world.

The gulf between their wealth is as vast and unbridgeable as the ocean. If Elon had remained in Africa, he might not have topped Johann’s net worth of $12.8 billion. He made the right call back then.

Back to Adenuga and Musk, one is now in his early 70s, the other in his early 50s.

Both share striking similarities across the nobility in the leadership value chain:

Entrepreneurial Vision & Leadership: Both are visionary business leaders who have significantly shaped their industries—Musk in fintech, space, electric vehicles, and AI, and Adenuga in telecommunications and oil. Their ability to innovate and lead massive enterprises highlights their strong leadership qualities.

Courage & Risk-Taking: Both leaders exhibit extraordinary courage in taking risks. Musk has pushed forward with revolutionary ideas in space travel and electric vehicles despite scepticism and huge setbacks, while Adenuga disrupted Africa’s telecom and took bold steps in the oil industry, competing in both instances against African and global giants.

Generosity & Philanthropy: Both are known for their charitable efforts. Musk has contributed to renewable energy, space exploration, and AI safety, while Adenuga has funded scholarships and community development programs in Nigeria and beyond, where he is also regarded as the king of individual empowerment.

Influence & Global Impact: They are both highly influential figures in their regions and globally, shaping industries, inspiring entrepreneurs, and influencing policies in technology and business.

Loyalty: Both have shown dedication to their missions and the communities they serve. Musk focuses on global tech, while Adenuga prioritizes Nigerian and African development.

I used The Nurturing Nobilities Group (TNNG) parameters for nobility in leadership to rate the two leaders, and the outcome was a hit. The rating was based on public perception and documented actions.

Despite differences in style and personal philosophy, their overall nobility scores are remarkably equal, showcasing their shared commitment to innovation, leadership, and societal impact. Musk excels in disruptive vision but faces criticism on ethics and humility, while Adenuga balances ambition with community-focused humility.

The Divergence: Conventional Wisdom

While strikingly similar across several pillars of nobility, they are remarkably different in conventional wisdom. While both are highly rated for strategic innovation, Adenuga shows distinct discretion regarding practical wisdom in business-government relations.

Take the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the US for instance. How would Mike Adenuga have handled such a situation? Efficient government operations are undeniably essential for any nation. If implemented with transparency and impartiality, DOGE promises to become a groundbreaking initiative. Elon Musk’s visionary approach to devising a program that could cut government costs, boost efficiency, stimulate economic growth, and reduce national debt brims with transformative potential.

However, Mike Adenuga likely would not have volunteered to run such an organization directly. Given the magnitude of the billionaire class’s investment, he believes in minding his own business and nurturing his enterprises privately. He does not see why a business leader should expose his enterprises to undue risks by actively participating in governance and running a business department.

That is, indeed, conventional wisdom. Political neutrality is the bridge that connects all customers of a product across party lines. Once any political party thinks a business leader has crossed the political line, it may call for a product boycott. The consequences might be disastrous if the situation is not diffused or effectively managed.

Therefore, Adenuga believes entrepreneurs must not be openly affiliated with any government. Even when he has sympathies and affinities, he prefers to show them privately as his inalienable right.

He also firmly maintains that if you are a businessman with extensive investment in a country, never fight the government in power, especially in Africa. They will crush you.

A Case Study in Conventional Wisdom

In 2007, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government moved against Mike Adenuga and his business interests. He could have chosen to fight back but was more concerned about his extensive business investments across Nigeria. He knew the government’s agenda was to use trumped-up charges as an excuse to take over the running of Globacom. He understood the government had no capacity to run such an operation and feared his staff might lose their jobs while the business could be ruined. He made the tactical decision to leave the country in self-exile.

It took the intervention of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to persuade him to return to the country. Now of blessed memory, Yar’Adua said he would do whatever it took to motivate rather than antagonize or persecute investors who create jobs and keep the oil of a nation’s progress flowing.

This approach to business-government relations represents Adenuga’s conventional wisdom: maintain political neutrality, focus on business growth, and avoid confrontations with the state. While Musk may possess the “Adenuga spirit” in entrepreneurship and vision, this fundamental difference in engaging with political power sets them apart.

Where Musk sees direct engagement as a path to influence, Adenuga sees discretion as the better part of valor. Both approaches have their merits, but in the African context, Adenuga’s conventional wisdom has preserved his business empire through turbulent political transitions – an affirmation of the power of subtle influence over confrontation.

This is a tribute to celebrate Dr. Mike Adenuga’s 72nd birthday in advance from a global comparative perspective. May the fountain of his wisdom never run dry.