Social Justice

Akon launches solar academy that will supply electricity to millions in Africa

The Senegalese-American singer’s initiative, called Akon Lighting Africa, aims to supply electricity to 600 million people in Africa

Published

10 years ago

June 2, 2015

Unheard Voices Staff

Akon Launches Solar Academy That Will Supply Electricity to Millions in Africa

Akon Photo By U.S. Embassy Nairobi (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akon_in_2015.jpg)

Akon is more than just a singer or producer. He also gives back in a major way and he’s doing so this time by providing sustainable living options to people in African countries with a solar academy called Akon Lighting Africa.

Akon aims to provide sustainable living

The Senegalese-American singer’s initiative, called Akon Lighting Africa, aims to supply electricity to 600 million people in Africa who lack it with the launch of the Solar Academy.

Located in Bamako, Mali, the Solar Academy will help African engineers and entrepreneurs develop skills that will enable them to produce solar power.

Experts will be on hand to help the participants with training and equipment, according to a Reuters report.

About Akon Lighting Africa

According to Akon, the goal of the academy is to teach individuals how to maintain solar-powered electricity systems and microgrids.

“We have the sun and innovative technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities. We now need to consolidate African expertise,” said Samba Baithily, who founded the initiative with Akon and Thione Niang.

The organization also hopes to create jobs with its initiative.

“We expect the Africans who graduate from this center to devise new, innovative, technical solutions,” said Niang. “With this academy, we can capitalize on Akon Lighting Africa and go further.”

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