Award winning Senegalese American artiste Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Bongo Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, popularly known as Akon, is on a mission to light up 1 million homes before the end of 2014.
He intends to do this through the “Akon Lighting Africa” initiative which will address this concern by creating replicable, scalable and cost-effective energy solutions in partnership with GIVE1 PROJECT and Solektra International.
Akon met with the heads of state of the countries he is focusing on, recently to address this energy issue. The countries are Senegal, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo and the Ivory Coast
“We are extremely pleased by the overwhelmingly positive response of government leaders to embrace a public-private partnership that aims to address access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative is given further validity and momentum based on the support of these nations and their executives and advisors,” says Akon.
The initiative will support the installation of solar equipment in households to improve energy sufficiency. As one of the benefits, Akon Lighting Africa will give millions of children access to electricity in order to improve the quality of their education through extended study hours.
Founder and President of GIVE1 PROJECT ThioneNiang says, “This initiative gives a unique opportunity to bring partners across the spectrum to address the most important needs to Africa’s development. All of us in the African diaspora can play a role in advancing the continent. Without electricity our children cannot study and our hospitals cannot function. The time is now and it’s up to us to make a lasting impact for a new Africa.”
