Seeing Dr Adenuga’s name making one of the highest votes during the selection for the Maddtimes power list, I suddenly started feeling very guilty all over again
For the last 7 years, something has been on my mind, but for some very telling reasons, I have not been able to speak about it publicly
I even mentioned this last year to Chief Dele Momodu over lunch in his tastefully furnished apartment at the very exclusive Eko Atlantic enclave.
Chief Momodu saw reasons with me, but advised that I remain patient
Well, I have run out of patience and will now say it openly, damming any consequences
The consequences being that I had signed a mutually agreed confidentiality agreement barring me from mentioning Dr Adenuga and his family in any of my writings
Anyway, I will go against that and now speak my truth, after which, he can come and beat me
My son, Joseph Edgar had just gained admission to the very exclusive Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia
SCAD is ranked among the best art universities in the world, and they identified my son early and have been keeping tabs on him.
He emerged as the best Arts student in West Africa and won the Cambridge prize for that feat.
The school was excited at having the prodigy, and he himself was eager to resume
The School worked with the US embassy, and pronto, his Visa was ready
But there was a problem. Nicholas had just sacked me, and I couldn’t afford the N22m bill for the fees
He had a scholarship of about $4,000, which means that a jobless man had to cough up about $18m for this expedition.
There is a Social Contract between parents and children
The children are to pass their exams, and the parents fund all of that pursuit
My son had done his own, and here was I abt to fail on my part
Gloom was my partner as I saw myself as a failure
My father was also in the same dilemma. I had been admitted to read Political Science at the University of Ibadan, and he, too, had recently lost his job and could not afford the N90 registration fee.
Note N90, not N90, 000, but he sold all the tyres in his car, borrowed some more, and the church contributed and voila, here I am, a trouble-making graduate
This was N22m, not N90, and even if I sold my soul, I would only come out with N100k, given my current valuation as a 56-year-old, BP-fighting Nigerian male on the spiritual commodities exchange.
Then my phone rang one hot afternoon, and I picked up.
The voice was drawling, and it spoke in Ibibio. I thought it was a ticket scalper as I was in the middle of my second production
So impatiently I asked – mbok, who is this, and the voice replied – aghh, you can’t recognise my voice, and I said No, sir
The voice laughed and said, ” It’s your friend Dr Mike Adenuga
I thought it was a joker and I said, ” Which Mike Adenuga, please sir, the thing that is doing me is beyond this one o. Just carry yourAdenuga joke and go
The voice laughed again and said, “Agh, didn’t Lanre tell you I’ve been looking for you?”
It then stuck. Lanre was brilliant, Lanre Alfred, who had called me some weeks earlier to say Dr Adenuga just asked for my numbers
Immediately, I fell to my knees – ohh my Lord, ohhh my Lord, pls forgive me. I didn’t realise
He laughed. Edgar, then I was not the Duke of Shomolu. I enjoy reading your column; you are a very brilliant writer, and I want to have lunch with you
The Jehovah that I am worshipping, who has stood by me in all my madness, put the wisdom of Solomon in my mouth
Sir, I really do not want lunch; I have a bigger problem with school fees. Can you monetise it?
He laughed and said, “Agh, don’t let people know that the great Edgar cannot pay school fees”. Oya, tell me the details
I told him, and he said, ” OK, don’t worry, go to my office tomorrow, and they will sort you out. “
I said ok sir.
That night, sleep left me. I decided to stay holy, I didn’t watch Porn so as not to spoil the blessings and just stayed awake
First thing in the morning, I was at the office, and they were expecting me
They gave me an envelope with a bank draft.
They said, ” Don’t open it here, ” I said ok
Rushed to my car, opened it and broke down in tears
This total stranger had just sent my son to America; he had given me all the money just like that.
I knelt down on the hot tar and, in tears, started praying for him, blessing him and crying like a madman
I had heard that they don’t call him, but I did, and he picked up the phone in tears. I thanked him, and he said I should not tell a soul, and I promised him that I would not, but rushed home and called the whole neighbourhood and showed them the draft, and they all knelt down and prayed for Dr Adenuga
It didn’t end there. Exactly one year later, he called me again – Duke, by this time, I had become the Duke – how is your son, and I said he is doing well, thank youso much, my Lord.
He said, ” Go back to the office, and they will sort you. Aghhhhh mbok abasi, nsuto mkpo ado mi, I exclaimed in Ibibio, and he repeated in Ibibio – afo ado eti owo
N10m draft was placed in my hands, and I cried again, and I called him again, and he did not answer, and I sent a text, and he did not answer
Some people close to him say the rule is that you never call, and I’ve gone to call and send texts like ‘say na me make,’ am,’ Bull.
Guess I must have broken some rule, and the next thing was a call after I sent another text to inform him that I had mentioned him in my new book – loud whispers
The Chairman would like to see you. I went and met some big men. The Chairman apologises and is very grateful and appreciative of your mention, and would like to give you a small gift
The cheque almost suffocated me, and they gave me something to sign, which I quickly signed.
Today, almost 7 years later, I have decided to tell the world about this huge life-changing generosity cos i feel that he didn’t give me enough opportunity to say thank you
Dr Mike Adenuga continues to be a massive source of beneficial inspiration to millions, and his achievements in all spheres of endeavour stand tall for all to see
So it’s no wonder that the 50 eminent Nigerians who chose the 100 most powerful Nigerians for the book *Maddtimes Power list Coffee tableBook* threw up his name more times than most nominees, making me seize the opportunity to shed the heavy weight of guilt by telling the whole world how he changed my life.
Ete mbok ku yad esit, don’t be annoyed, even you too knew in your heart of hearts that one day I would do this, and I’ve done it.
You can now come and beat me, Etubom.
God bless you, sir
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: January 17, 2026
