Dr. Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group and a leading voice in Nigeria’s energy sector, is celebrating his 62nd birthday today, August 12, 2026.
Born on August 12, 1964, Adesina has built a distinguished career spanning insurance, finance, energy, trade, diplomacy and business leadership. He is widely recognised for his role in shaping the growth of Sahara Group and advancing conversations around Nigeria and Africa’s energy future.
Over the years, Adesina has held several influential positions in Nigeria’s power sector. He is the Chairman of the Board of Ikeja Electric and has previously served as Chairman of Egbin Power Plc. His leadership has been closely associated with efforts to strengthen electricity generation, distribution and investment in Nigeria’s power ecosystem.
His professional journey has also earned him recognition beyond the corporate environment. In April 2026, Adesina was appointed to the Mission 300 Private Sector Council, an initiative backed by the World Bank Group, African Development Bank and Rockefeller Foundation, with the ambition of connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
The council comprises 14 senior leaders from the global energy, finance, infrastructure and technology sectors, placing Adesina among a select group of private-sector leaders contributing to discussions on Africa’s energy transformation.
Adesina’s academic background includes degrees from the University of Lagos, as well as executive programmes at Harvard Business School and The Wharton School. His career at Sahara has seen him lead major initiatives across the energy value chain and contribute to the company’s expansion across Africa and other international markets.
In recent years, he has remained a prominent advocate for investment, innovation and stronger infrastructure in Nigeria’s power sector. In May 2026, he called for the adoption of digital electricity grids, arguing that real-time data, automation and predictive intelligence could help address persistent challenges in the country’s electricity system.
As he marks his 62nd birthday, colleagues, business associates and stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector celebrate a career defined by entrepreneurship, strategic leadership and a sustained commitment to the development of Africa’s energy industry.
The milestone also comes as Adesina continues to play a role in shaping conversations around reliable electricity supply, private-sector investment and sustainable energy development across the continent.
