A week ago, Senegalese-American artist and Grammy Awards winner Akon received an award at the Global Citizen Forum in Montenegro for his work in renewable energies in Africa and inspiring millions of people worldwide.
The work on renewable energy across Africa led by Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, popularly known as Akon, has inspired many across the world and the forum recognized how work in this regard. “With Akon Lighting Africa, our goal is to electrify all 48 countries that need electricity in Africa,” Akon said ahead of the Gala night.
One may wonder why the electricity initiative has gained this worldwide recognition. Akon Lighting Africa is a project that was originated in 2014 by Akon with the help of Samba Bathily and Thione Niang. The main scope of this roject is to provide renewable energy in Africa, and to acieve this they chose solar energy.
Since its inception, the initiative is now operating in seventeen countries, including his home country Senegal. The project involves the electrification of African countries by providing street lamps, solar micro generators, and household electric systems at various localities.
The sheer determination and zeal to scale new heights through entrepreneurship has seen Akon doing wonder in the continenet. He is doing remarkably well to match his music success and entrepreneurial success. Akon sidestepped the political challenges and roadblocks stemming from the oil industry by partnering with a Chinese solar power manufacturer and thus the authorship of the genesis of Akon Lighting Africa had commenced.
The initiative has set up private-public partnerships and partnerships with governments to oversee the project, which is beneficial to the continent. Not only is the project clean and environmentally-friendly it is also a source of employment through direct and indirect jobs for the youth.