Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, father of Nigerian superstar Davido, recently opened up about the hurdles he faced while working on his $2 billion (approximately ₦3.42 trillion) power plant project.
In a viral video from a conference in Maryland, USA, on October 15, 2024, the prominent businessman shared his story.
Dr. Adeleke, who is the President of Adeleke University and CEO of Pacific Holdings Limited, revealed that a certain government official tried to sabotage the power plant from ever being built.
Though he chose not to name the person, he made it clear that this official did everything possible to block the project.
However, Dr. Adeleke credited his faith in God for helping him push through and making the project a reality.
He shared how challenging the process was, particularly with design approvals and permits. A politician, acting like he had the ultimate power, was determined to stop the project, he added.
Adeleke explained that he wanted to build the largest power plant in Nigeria, a 1,250-megawatt facility, to boost the country’s electricity supply. But the government official kept insisting it would never happen.
Despite the obstacles, Dr. Adeleke remained steadfast, putting the matter in God’s hands. His Chinese business partner, however, wasn’t as optimistic.
The partner, who had heavily invested in the project, expressed doubt, saying, “God can’t help us now; this is a serious business issue.” But Dr. Adeleke stood firm in his faith.
A turning point came when Dr. Adeleke received an unexpected call from the Ministry of Power, inviting him to meet with the minister. As luck would have it, the official who had been obstructing the project was away in Germany for health reasons. The minister, being the top authority, approved the power plant in his absence.
After the approval, Dr. Adeleke’s once-skeptical Chinese partner even started joking, advising him to turn to God whenever they faced challenges. “God really does have His way,” he admitted.
He proudly announced that the 1,250-megawatt power plant, set to be the largest in Nigeria, is scheduled to begin operations in January 2025.
