Adedeji Adeleke, father of award-winning musician Davido, has opened up about the challenges he faced in securing an environmental permit for his $2 billion power plant project in Nigeria. The billionaire industrialist shared his experience during the Seventh Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council held in Maryland, USA, on Tuesday.
Adeleke, speaking as a Layperson from the West-Central Africa Division, recounted the difficulties he encountered with “difficult government officials” while working on the project through his company, Pacific Energy. He specifically recalled an official telling him that the project would never “see the light of day.”
He explained how this statement drove him to prayer, refusing to accept it as the final verdict on his power plant, which is designed to generate 1,250 megawatts of electricity, supplying 15% of Nigeria’s power needs. “This guy is talking as if he is God,” Adeleke recalled thinking during the meeting. “Whatever he is saying is null and void.”
The project, which involves Chinese engineering firms and the Afrexim Bank of China, faced significant delays due to the environmental permit denial. Adeleke said his Chinese partners were concerned about potential financial losses, but he assured them that the situation would be resolved.
Eventually, Adeleke’s prayers were answered when the then Minister of Power granted the necessary approval, recognizing the value of the project. The power plant is set for completion in January 2025.
Adeleke had previously spoken about this venture during the 9th graduation ceremony of Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, in July 2023, highlighting its significance in Nigeria’s energy sector.
