Adedeji Adeleke, the father of music star Davido, shared his experience securing a $2 billion environmental permit for Nigeria’s largest power plant. Facing obstacles from uncooperative officials, he turned to prayer and strategic partnerships, ultimately gaining approval for the 1,250-megawatt project, set to launch in January 2025.
Adedeji Adeleke, the father of global music icon Davido, recently shared his challenging journey to obtain an environmental permit for a monumental power plant in Nigeria, valued at over $2 billion. Speaking at the Seventh Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, Adeleke recounted facing significant hurdles due to uncooperative government officials, one of whom bluntly told him that his project would “never see the light of day.”
Undeterred, Adeleke turned to prayer, expressing his faith that the official's words did not hold ultimate authority. He emphasized his commitment to the project, which is being developed by his company, Pacific Energy, in partnership with Chinese engineering firms. This 1,250-megawatt facility is expected to generate approximately 15% of Nigeria's electricity needs upon its completion in January 2025.
Adeleke revealed that after facing the permit denial, his Chinese associates were understandably anxious, given the significant financial investments already made. He reassured them, emphasizing that a meeting with the then Minister of Power ultimately turned the tide, leading to the approval of the project.
