Adedeji Adeleke, Nigerian billionaire and father of music superstar Davido, recently opened up about the challenges he faced in securing an environmental permit for his $2 billion power plant. Adeleke, who is the founder of Pacific Energy, shared his story while speaking at the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, USA, where he represented the West-Central Africa Division as a layperson.
During his speech, Adeleke recounted the hurdles he encountered, particularly with difficult government officials. One official even went so far as to say that his project would never succeed. Refusing to accept this as the final verdict, Adeleke turned to prayer, asking God to intervene, confident that the official’s word wasn’t the last say in his company’s future.
Adeleke explained that Pacific Energy, which generates 15% of Nigeria’s electricity needs, was working with Chinese engineering firms to design and construct a 1,250-megawatt power plant, set to be the largest in Nigeria upon its completion in January 2025. However, the project faced a significant roadblock when its environmental permit was denied.
The industrialist expressed his frustration after a meeting with government officials, where he was told that the project would not see the light of day. Despite this setback, Adeleke remained resolute, encouraging his Chinese partners not to lose hope. He reassured them that the issue would be resolved, even though the Afrexim Bank of China’s involvement in the project made the situation especially tense.
While his Chinese partners were skeptical about relying on prayer alone, Adeleke believed it would make a difference. His faith was rewarded when the then Minister of Power eventually granted the necessary approval, acknowledging the brilliance of the project.
Adeleke had previously discussed this power project during a lecture at the 9th graduation ceremony of Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, back in July 2023. The completion of this 1,250-megawatt power plant will be a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy sector, reinforcing Adeleke’s contributions as a leading figure in the country’s business landscape.
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