“How I Almost Bought Chevron Netherlands At 29” – Paddy Adenuga, Son Of Nigerian Billionaire, Mike Adenuga
Paddy Adenuga, son of Nigerian billionaire and telecom Magnate, Mike Adenuga, has revealed how he almost pulled off one of the world’s biggest coups in the oil and gas industry.
Paddy, in a lengthy article, disclosed that he had left the family business in 2013 to start his own oil company in a bid to carve a niche and name for himself.
This led him to London where he started his own company and where he had an experience that was to change his life forever.
It was in the course of his business in London that Paddy got wind of news that US oil giant, Chevron was selling its entire business in the Netherlands. He put in a bid and his company was selected. In his words, Paddy said,
“Chevron are by nature, prudently selective with which companies they invite to bid. So the fact that Catalan was chosen was a big deal to me. I felt like for once in my 29 years, I wasn’t being judged solely by my last name but for my skill, merits and ability”
It was not however a smooth journey from there on as he had to deal with making the right decisions, trusting his instincts, putting his experience to play.
In the end, Paddy narrowly lost the bid and was very disappointed. He was however comforted by the words of one of his close friends who said:
“Mr. P, how many people are given the opportunity you had at 29 to buy Chevron Netherlands? How many Nigerians can ever say they were in a competitive bid to buy an oil & gas company in Europe and almost won? How many young men at your age with the same background, simply settle for less? But you went out into the real world and fought hard and fought valiantly…You might have lost but you won. Take this as a privilege and that God himself is shaping you into a Man and not just any Man.”
Paddy’s father, Mike Adenuga is the owner of popular Nigerian telecom brand, Globacom popularly known as Glo.