By LAGOS, Nigeria – Chief Deji Adeleke, a prominent Nigerian businessman and the driving force behind several power plants across the country, has revealed that his new 1,250-megawatt power plant, set to be Nigeria’s largest, will be operational by January 2024.
The power plant is expected to contribute about 15 per cent of the nation’s electricity needs, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Chief Adeleke and his son, Davido
In a gathering of different races as sighted in a video of Facebook, Chief Adeleke, who’s the father of Nigeria’s hip-hop artist, Davido, shared the challenges faced during the project’s development, including governmental hurdles that nearly derailed the massive $2 billion investment.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/L8TxzUcWrUco8rVE/?mibextid=jmPrMh
According to Adeleke, the project, which is being constructed in collaboration with Chinese engineering firms, encountered resistance from environmental regulators, one of whom declared that the plant would “never see the light of day.”
Undeterred, Adeleke turned to his faith. “When I heard the government official’s words, I thought to myself, ‘This man is talking as if he is God.’ But because I believe only God controls the outcome, I wasn’t worried,” he explained.
Adeleke’s reliance on prayer became crucial when delays arose in obtaining necessary permits. His Chinese business partner expressed frustration, especially with the Bank of China being involved. But instead of being anxious, Adeleke decided to pray, assuring his partner that “everything was going to be alright.”
His Chinese friend, however, was skeptical, telling him that this was a serious matter, not one for religious intervention.
Despite the doubts, Adeleke remained steadfast. He prayed over the weekend, seeking divine intervention to resolve the impasse with both the government official and his partner.
Remarkably, the following week, he received a call from Nigeria’s Ministry of Power, asking him to come to the minister’s office to collect the long-awaited permit. “I didn’t know what had happened, but I knew God had made it possible,” Adeleke recounted.
Adeleke later discovered that the government official who had been blocking the project fell ill and was flown to Germany for treatment.
In his absence, a senior official reviewed the application and approved it, recognizing the urgent need for increased electricity in the country. “It was like a miracle,” Adeleke said.
When he informed his Chinese partner about receiving the permit, the man was in disbelief. “He asked if I bribed anyone,” Adeleke recalled. “But I told him, ‘No, I prayed.’”
From that moment, his partner’s attitude changed, and whenever challenges arose during the construction process, his partner would jokingly tell him to “report it to God in church.”
Adeleke’s faith in prayer has played a crucial role throughout the journey, and he continues to trust in God as the project approaches completion. “I don’t know if it has worked for others, but it has worked for me. Prayers I said on the Sabbath always work faster,” he said.
The new power plant, once completed, will not only be the largest in Nigeria but also a major step toward addressing the country’s persistent electricity shortages.
With a strong partnership between Nigerian and Chinese firms, and an unwavering belief in divine support, Chief Adeleke’s ambitious vision is on the verge of becoming a reality.
By January, millions of Nigerians will benefit from the power generated by this project, a testament to the resilience, faith, and persistence of one of the country’s leading businessmen.
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