Sahara Group CEO Kola Adesina Appointed to World Bank Mission 300 Council to Electrify Africa

Sahara Group CEO Kola Adesina joins the World Bank’s Mission 300 Council, aiming to provide electricity to 300 million Africans through private investment by 2030.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 3:43 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from THISDAY

Private Sector Leadership Mobilizes for Continental Electrification Drive

The effort to solve Africa’s persistent energy deficit has gained a significant private sector ally with the appointment of Kola Adesina to a high-level advisory body. The Mission 300 Private Sector Council, convened by the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, and The Rockefeller Foundation, serves as a strategic platform for business leaders to influence energy policy. According to reporting from Emmanuel Addeh, Adesina’s inclusion is intended to bridge the gap between institutional ambition and practical project execution. By bringing together senior executives, the council seeks to unlock the massive volumes of private capital required to achieve universal electricity access in regions that remain largely off-grid.

Energy Scarcity Identified as Primary Constraint to African Growth

The scale of the challenge remains a fundamental barrier to the continent's industrial and digital evolution, as approximately half of Africa's population still lives without reliable power. This systemic lack of electricity continues to stifle productivity and limit the potential for tech-driven innovation across various national economies. According to the mission's framework, closing this infrastructure gap is a prerequisite for unlocking Africa’s global competitiveness. Adesina noted that his role on the council will focus on translating high-level policy into "bankable projects" that can deliver measurable impact to the hundreds of millions currently living in the dark.

Sahara Group Leverages Decades of Power Sector Expertise

The appointment draws directly on the extensive operational history of Sahara Group and its subsidiary, Sahara Power Group, in managing large-scale energy assets. Adesina highlighted the company's experience in developing, operating, and financing power infrastructure as a blueprint for the council’s broader continental goals. According to the CEO, the firm’s involvement in generation and distribution has already contributed to economic transformation in specific regions. By scaling these proven models through the Mission 300 platform, the council aims to create a more robust pipeline of energy projects that appeal to international investors and development finance institutions.