In the quiet town of Ajebamidele, Ondo State, a powerful transformation is taking shape, one that could redefine Nigeria’s energy future. At the helm of this transformation is Adedeji Adeleke, the accomplished businessman, philanthropist, and father of Afrobeats superstar Davido. Through his company, Pacific Energy, Adeleke has completed the construction of a $2 billion gas-powered electricity plant with a generating capacity of 1,250 megawatts.
The plant, which is now fully built, is awaiting final connection to the national gas grid before it can begin operations. Once online, it has the potential to supply electricity to millions of Nigerian homes and businesses, easing the chronic power shortage that has long held back development across the country. But for Adeleke, this project is more than just a commercial enterprise. It’s a purposeful intervention to help power the nation and create lasting impact.
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According to Adeleke, the new power plant will directly employ over 2,000 engineers and other workers, contributing significantly to job creation and technical capacity-building in the country. Yet the road to completion was far from smooth. Adeleke shares that acquiring critical components like turbines was a major challenge. Without his longstanding business networks and global relationships, he says, suppliers like General Electric might not have come through. In his words, if the turbines hadn’t arrived, the project and the jobs it promises might never have materialized.
Adedeji Adeleke’s business journey spans more than four decades. Many may know him today as the father of one of Africa’s biggest music exports, but he began building his empire long before Davido ever stepped on stage. In 1983, he founded Pacific Holdings as a borehole drilling and water treatment company. Over the years, the business evolved into a diverse conglomerate with interests in banking, logistics, education, farming, real estate, and energy. Today, through Pacific Freightliners, the group plays an active role in Nigeria’s transport and logistics sectors.
In the energy space, Pacific Energy is already a known name. It operates two gas-fired power plants: the Omotosho Power Plant in Ondo State, producing 336.8 megawatts, and the Olorunsogo Power Plant in Ogun State, with a capacity of 304 megawatts. Together, these facilities produce 640.8 megawatts, more than Geregu Power’s 435 megawatts and approaching Transcorp Power’s 972 megawatts.
The addition of the new 1,250-megawatt plant in Ajebamidele places Pacific Energy on course to become Nigeria’s largest privately owned power producer. This is a significant leap forward in the country’s efforts to tackle its energy crisis. With this, Adeleke joins a select group of entrepreneurs, including leaders at Transcorp Power and Geregu Power, driving transformation in Nigeria’s power industry through independent generation.
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Beyond the numbers and infrastructure, Adeleke’s latest achievement underscores the vital role that private sector players are increasingly playing in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges. His vision and commitment are not just about generating megawatts. They are about empowering communities, enabling industries, and unlocking the country’s development potential.
With everything in place and only the gas connection left to activate operations, the Ajebamidele plant represents a major milestone. It is not just for Pacific Energy or Adedeji Adeleke, but for the entire country. In a time when Nigeria urgently needs bold and strategic investments to power its future, Adeleke’s contribution stands tall.
