Nonye Alugwo Adedeji Adeleke (born 6 March 1957) is a Nigerian billionaire business magnate, philanthropist, and educationist. He is the founder and CEO of the conglomerate Pacific Holdings Limited and the founder and president of Adeleke University.
Adedeji established Springtime Development Foundation (SDF) in 1996 and founded Adeleke University in 2011. He is the father of Afrobeats superstar Davido.
| Adedeji Adeleke | |
|---|---|
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| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Chief Adedeji Tajudeen Adeleke |
| Born: | 6 March 1957 (age 69 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Enugu State |
| State of origin | Osun State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Parents: | Raji Ayoola Adeleke (father) Esther Nnena Adeleke (mother) |
| Education: | Western Kentucky University |
| Occupation: | Business magnate, philanthropist, educationist |
| Spouse: | Dr Veronica Adeleke |
| Relatives: | Isiaka Adeleke Ademola Adeleke |
Early life
Adeleke was born on 6 March 1957 in Enugu State to the late Raji Ayoola Adeleke and the late Esther Nnena Adeleke. He stayed with his maternal grandmother in the East before moving to Lagos for his primary school education
He hails from Ede in Osun State and is the fourth of six children. His brothers are Ademola Adeleke, who is the Governor of Osun State, and the late Isiaka Adeleke, who was the first civilian Governor of Osun State.
Education
Adeleke attended Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, from 1965 to 1970. He was admitted into Seventh-Day Adventist Grammar School, Ede, in 1970. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Finance and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.
Adedeji returned to Nigeria and served in the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He holds a PhD in International Business from Pacific Columbia University, California. He defended his thesis titled “Japan’s conflicting international trade behaviour” in 1983.
Adeleke obtained a second doctoral degree in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Phoenix, Arizona. His thesis was “Electricity supply, efficiency and organisational growth and profitability in Lagos, Nigeria“.
Career
Adedeji worked at the Federal Ministry of Education with a West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1975. He left after gaining admission to Western Kentucky University in 1976.
In 1983, he founded Pacific Holdings Limited as a modest drilling and water treatment outfit. He has built it into a conglomerate with interests in energy, power generation, banking, logistics, agriculture, gas, manufacturing, and real estate.
Adeleke operates the Omotosho Power Plant in Ondo State and the Olorunsogo Power Plant in Ogun State through the Pacific Energy Company Limited. He generates approximately 15 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity needs.
In 1996, Adeleke launched the non-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) Springtime Development Foundation (SDF) to empower disadvantaged communities.
In 2011, he founded the private institution Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, under a Federal Government license. It features six colleges across a vast 200-hectare. He was appointed as the pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council by the Board of Trustees.
Adeleke owns commercial properties across Nigeria, including in Ikoyi, Lekki, Banana Island, and Victoria Island in Lagos.
Personal life
Adedeji was married to the late Dr Veronica Adeleke, who passed away on 6 March 2003. He has five children: two daughters, Sharon and Ashley, and three sons, Adewale, Ayoola, and David (Davido).
References
- She Leads Africa. “Sharon Adeleke: I may be Davido’s sister but I make my own money”. www.sheleadsafrica.org.
- Adekunle Sulaimon. “ICYMI: How I got permit for $2bn Nigeria’s biggest power plant — Davido’s father”. Punch Newspaper.
- Abu Mubarik. “Dr Adedeji Adeleke: All you need to know about Davido’s father and his businesses”. Face 2 Face Africa.
- WKU Alumni Association. “WKU Spirit proves to have international reach”. alumni.wku.edu.
- Kingsley Okoh. “Adedeji Adeleke: The Quiet Billionaire Powering Nigeria’s Future”. Leadership.
- Adeleke University. “DR. ADEDEJI ADELEKE”. www.adelekeuniversity.edu.ng.
