Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, a billionaire businessman and the father of renowned music artist David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has asserted that he is responsible for generating 15% of Nigeria’s electricity supply.
During his address at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s General Conference Annual Council 2024 on Tuesday, Adeleke shared that his business ventures contribute significantly to the country’s electricity generation.
He announced that he is currently constructing a 1,250-megawatt power plant, which is anticipated to be the largest in Nigeria upon its completion.
“I am a businessman in Nigeria, specifically in the electricity sector. I own power plants and currently generate about 15% of Nigeria’s electricity needs,” Adeleke stated.
He mentioned that he collaborates with Chinese engineering firms for his projects and is nearing the completion of his tenth power plant, which he hopes will be the largest thermal power plant in the nation.
“This 1,250-megawatt facility is set to become operational in January,” he added.
Adeleke also revealed that he faced challenges during the project’s development, including threats from an unnamed government official who attempted to halt its progress.
Despite these obstacles, he attributed the project’s advancement to divine intervention, emphasizing that it is a testament to God’s mercy.
“While navigating the design and permit process, we encountered difficult government officials. Our permit was initially denied for environmental reasons, and one official even told me directly that my project would never succeed. However, I thought to myself that he was speaking as if he were God. I believed that whatever he said was irrelevant,” he recounted.
Feeling disheartened, he informed his Chinese partners about the potential delays, noting that the project, valued at approximately $2 billion, had already incurred significant costs in design and preliminary work.
His Chinese associate, concerned about the implications for their investment, traveled to Nigeria to explore solutions, as he doubted that prayer alone would suffice to resolve the situation.
Adeleke affirmed that prayer played a crucial role, as the then Minister of Power ultimately granted the necessary approval, recognizing the project’s potential.
