Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, is a renowned Nigerian businessman and the father of Afrobeats star Davido.
Born in 1957 in Enugu, Nigeria, he spent his early years with his grandmother before relocating to Lagos to start primary school.
In 1970, he attended the Seventh-Day Adventist Grammar School in Ede, located in what was then the Western Region (now Osun State), Nigeria. His academic journey later took him to the United States, where he enrolled at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance in 1979. Committed to furthering his education, he immediately pursued and completed a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1981.
Dr. Adedeji Adeleke furthered his studies by pursuing a PhD in International Business at Pacific Columbia University in Mills Valley, California. In 1983, he completed his doctorate with a thesis titled Japan’s Conflicting International Trade Behaviour.
Dr. Adeleke’s professional journey began with a role at the Federal Ministry of Education before heading abroad for university. After returning to Nigeria, he fulfilled his obligations through the Nigeria National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Soon afterward, he embarked on an entrepreneurial path, marking the beginning of his prominent career in business.
In 2007, he started working towards earning another doctoral degree in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Phoenix, Arizona. In 2010, he successfully defended his thesis titled “Electricity supply, efficiency, and organizational growth and profitability in Lagos, Nigeria.”
Today, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke leads Pacific Holdings, a company he established before the age of 30, with diverse investments spanning agriculture, real estate, oil, gas, and more. The company is widely recognized as a key source of his financial success, with major subsidiaries such as Pacific Farm Limited, Pacific Freightliners Limited, and Pacific Gas Company Limited significantly enhancing his wealth.
This week, Adeleke announced that he is constructing Nigeria’s largest thermal power plant, a $2 billion project scheduled to launch in January 2025. Expected to add 1,250 kilowatts of electricity to the national grid, the project was discussed at the Seventh Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, USA, where Adeleke shared these developments.
“I am a businessman in Nigeria. I’m into the electricity business. I own a power plant; I generate about 15 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity needs. I have Chinese engineering companies that work for me. I’m building the biggest thermal plant in Nigeria, which will be completed in January 2025. It is a 1,250-megawatt power plant,” said Adeleke, a Christian of the Seventh-Day Adventist faith.
Adeleke’s Real Estate Investments
He owns Adeleke’s Real Estate Investments, which has properties across Nigeria, including high-value areas like Ikoyi, Lekki, Banana Island, and Victoria Island in Lagos. Aside from Nigeria, he has reportedly invested in international properties, including a mansion in Atlanta, U.S.
Adeleke’s University and Philanthropy
Dr. Adedeji Adeleke is also the visionary founder behind Adeleke University, located in Ede, Osun State. Established in 2011 under the Springtime Development Foundation, a non-profit he launched in 1996, the university follows the educational principles of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, the university is a testament to his commitment to quality education.
Known for his philanthropic focus, Dr. Adeleke has implemented scholarships and flexible payment options to make higher education more accessible, despite the institution’s private status. His charity work extends beyond education to include healthcare and community development, aimed at fostering sustainable social benefits.
Although born into privilege, Dr. Adeleke has diligently built his accomplishments. His lifestyle reflects his success, with a Bombardier Challenger 605 and Bombardier Global Express 6000 jet, alongside luxury vehicles like a Rolls Royce Phantom and a 2017 Bentley Mulsanne.