Prince Adedapo Benjamin Adelegan, president of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and original convener of the Lekki Sunsplash music festival, has announced plans to revive the event after several years. The festival, first held in 1988 at Lekki Beach, was described as Africa's biggest musical event at the time. Adelegan made the announcement during an interview with BusinessDay, where he reflected on his career in entertainment, business, and politics. He credited innovation and personal conviction as the driving forces behind his ventures, including the introduction of electronic outdoor advertising in Nigeria after seeing similar technology in London. Lagos State Governor Raji Rasaki supported the initiative, which later helped Adelegan's companies dominate the outdoor advertising space for years.
Adelegan, who never held a formal job before becoming managing director of his own firm at 25, said his business philosophy centers on disruption and impact rather than profit. His first concert was free, aimed at creating a new cultural experience. He attended the Owner Management Programme at Lagos Business School in 2002, which provided structure to his self-taught expertise. Adelegan also spoke about his political views, revealing he once disagreed with the leadership style of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and urged him to step down and support Adelegan's candidacy. He attributed his motivation for entering politics to compassion shaped by upbringing under his grandmother and experiences in communal living in Lagos.
The revival of Lekki Sunsplash will return as a live music festival on a larger scale, according to Adelegan. He noted that while Afrobeat now dominates globally, other music genres have been overlooked. His new book, "Behind the Curtain," shares lessons from his journey and is aimed at young Nigerians, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs. The book emphasizes struggle, faith, and persistence as foundations of success. Adelegan remains optimistic about Nigeria's potential despite its challenges, citing leadership roles in banking, entertainment, music, and film.
Prince Adelegan calls for the revival of Lekki Sunsplash while admitting he once urged a sitting governor to step down so he could take over, revealing a pattern of self-directed ambition masked as public service. His claim that compassion drives his politics clashes with his push to replace an elected leader mid-term. The festival's return on a bigger scale offers no clarity on how past logistical or funding issues will be avoided. Young Nigerians reading his book may find inspiration, but also a model where personal vision routinely overrides collective process.
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