Sahara Power GMD Kola Adesina Joins World Bank-Led Mission 300 Council
Dr. Kola Adesina, the Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, has been appointed to the prestigious Mission 300 Private Sector Council, a high-level initiative launched by the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and The Rockefeller Foundation. This council aims to accelerate electricity access for 300 million Africans by the year 2030, marking a significant step toward addressing the continent's energy challenges.
Composition and Mandate of the Council
The Mission 300 Private Sector Council consists of only 14 senior leaders from global energy, finance, infrastructure, and technology institutions. Its primary task is to mobilize private investment and scale up financing to drive economic transformation and job creation across Africa. Adesina's appointment follows the naming of Sahara Power Group, a subsidiary of the global energy and infrastructure conglomerate Sahara Group, to the council on April 1. He will join other business leaders expected to help translate the initiative's large development goals into investable power projects.
Sahara Power Group's Role and Portfolio
Sahara Power Group's inclusion and Adesina's appointment reflect its long-standing role in strengthening Africa's power ecosystem. The group's portfolio includes key entities such as Egbin Power Plc, Ikeja Electric, and First Independent Power Limited. Through investments across generation, distribution, renewable and off-grid energy solutions, and data-enabled infrastructure, Sahara Power Group has been instrumental in advancing reliable electricity access on the continent.
Adesina's Vision and Commitment
Speaking on his appointment, Adesina, a pan-Africanist and seasoned entrepreneur, expressed honor in joining the council due to the shared ambition to connect more Africans to electricity in the near future. He emphasized that his inclusion presents an opportunity to advance collaborative solutions to Africa's energy challenges. According to Adesina, delivering electricity at scale will depend on coordinated partnerships, sustained private investment, and a strong pipeline of bankable projects capable of translating policy ambition into tangible outcomes.
Adesina highlighted the indispensable role of the private sector in closing Africa's electricity access gap. He stated, "Closing Africa's electricity gap will require strategic collaboration and sustained private investment. Mission 300 provides a credible platform for aligning policy ambition with bankable projects, and Sahara Power Group is proud to contribute its experience in developing, operating, and financing power assets that deliver reliable electricity and economic value."
Alignment with Broader Strategy
He noted that Sahara Power Group's participation aligns with its broader strategy of enabling power systems that support industrial growth, economic transformation, and inclusive development across Africa. Adesina added, "Access to reliable electricity is a prerequisite for industrialisation and competitiveness. Through Mission 300, we have an opportunity to deepen collaboration between governments, development institutions, and private investors to bring energy responsibly to Africa."
Council Leadership and Expectations
Announcing the launch of the council, Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), who co-chairs the council with Ray Chambers, Chair of the MCJ Foundation, said, "Mission 300's success depends on mobilising private investment at scale and implementing strategies shaped by businesses with experience in Africa's energy sector. This council brings exactly that – senior leaders with the networks and expertise to translate ambition into impact."
This appointment underscores the critical role of private sector leaders like Adesina in driving sustainable energy solutions and economic development in Africa, as the continent works toward achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
