The President of Adeleke University and the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Holdings Limited, Adedeji Adeleke, has announced that the completion of his 1250 megawatts thermal power plant, is awaiting gas grid connection to begin power generation.

The power plant, a $2 billion project located in Ajebandele village in Ondo State, is expected to employ over 2,000 engineers and other related workers.

The billionaire and a business magnate, said this on Sunday in Ede, Osun State, at the 11th undergraduate and 7th postgraduate convocation ceremonies of Adeleke University.

The plant, which would have been completed earlier, was reportedly delayed due to looters invading the site and stealing components of the turbine machine, which cost $5 million.

The completed 1,250 MW thermal power plant, when connected to the gas grid, will complement Nigeria’s existing 5,000 MW generation capacity.

“The power plant is ready, I am only waiting to be connected to the gas grid to start generating power. That plant will employ over 2,000 engineers and other associated workers,” Adeleke said.

Adeleke highlighted the importance of partnerships, such as with GE for turbine supply, in the development of the power plant.

“Imagine if not because of my relationship, we are not able to get GE to supply the turbine to us, that means that the powerplant will not be built. That means the jobs will not be there. Nobody wants to come to a society where votes do not count, where the electorate do not have a say,” he said.

Adeleke also spoke about the importance of credible elections in attracting foreign investment.

He said: “If we all insist on a free, fair and credible election other countries will respect us. Then we have an environment that can attract direct foreign investment that will create the jobs that we do badly need.

“Some of them who graduated four years ago, some of them are still on the street looking for jobs because nobody is investing. We do not understand that the way we conduct ourselves during our elections affects the ability of this country to attract foreign investors.”

According to him, Nigeria is a very good country with a lot of opportunities. “We need to start from being able to fire our elected officials if they do not perform and where we start from is that we do not sell our vote, do the right thing.”