Sahara Power joins global council to fast-track Africa’s energy access

Sahara Power Group has been named to the prestigious Mission 300 Private Sector Council, a high-level platform launched by the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and The Rockefeller Foundation to fast-track universal electricity access and unlock large-scale job creation across Africa by 2030.

The appointment underscores Sahara Power Group’s growing influence as a key player in Africa’s energy sector and its commitment to addressing the continent’s massive electricity deficit.

Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, has been appointed as a member of the Council, joining other prominent leaders from global energy, finance, infrastructure, and technology institutions. The Council aims to mobilise billions of dollars in private investment by strengthening national energy compacts, integrating regional power markets, expanding renewable and off-grid solutions, and scaling innovative financing structures.

Announcing the launch of the Private Sector Council, Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), stated: “Mission 300’s success depends on mobilising private investment at scale and implementing strategies shaped by businesses with deep experience in Africa’s energy sector. This council brings exactly that — senior leaders with the networks and expertise to translate ambition into impact.”

Reacting to the appointment, Kola Adesina emphasised the critical role of the private sector in closing Africa’s electricity access gap.
“Closing Africa’s electricity gap will require strategic collaboration and sustained private investment,” Adesina said.

“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.”

Adesina added that the initiative aligns perfectly with Sahara Power Group’s strategy of building power systems that drive industrial growth, economic transformation, and inclusive development.

“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,” he noted.

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Sahara Power Group, a subsidiary of the Sahara Group, operates the largest privately-owned power business in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its portfolio includes Egbin Power Plc (the largest thermal power plant in the region), Ikeja Electric (the largest electricity distribution company), and First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), which serves the Niger Delta region. The company has investments spanning power generation, distribution, renewables, off-grid solutions, and data-enabled infrastructure.

Since its launch in 2024, Mission 300 has already connected 44 million people to electricity, with 30 countries signing national energy compacts to accelerate delivery. The initiative seeks to crowd in substantial private capital to expand both grid and off-grid solutions across the continent.

Sahara Power Group’s inclusion in the Private Sector Council reinforces its position as a strategic partner in Africa’s energy future, contributing practical expertise and investment capacity to one of the continent’s most ambitious development goals.