They say, real celebrities don’t just entertain people but give back to charities. They offer their fullest support to the people who are affected by natural disasters. To those who are in need, many of today’s celebrities have always stepped up to decode the problems. There are only very few of them who remain icons to their birth country. One of a kind is Universal singer Akon.
There are over 600 million Africans in remote areas who have no access to electricity. The unfortunate ones live in the dark and do not know what would happen at night. According to Akon, he and Thione Niang (public servant, speaker and consultant) grew up in Kaolack region in Senegal without electricity. They knew how the life has been for the people in those countries without electricity. So, in 2013, they came up with a brilliant initiative to transform Africa to another level.
Later, Samba Bathily joined the two and gave some insights about his company called Solektra INT, which supplies solar-powered equipment. Akon and Thione were impressed by Samba’s ideas. So they combined their networks and launched the project “Akon Lighting Africa” in February 2014 that aims to provide electricity by means of Sola r energy in Africa.
Their short-term goal was to install Solar street lights and small energy systems. Last year, Akon Lights Africa provided electricity to 80 million Africans and is continuing to extend it’s services to the remaining parts as well.
The project became successful. It operates in 14 African countries including Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Benin and Sierra Leone. It also provides opportunities for young people. So far, they have employed over 5,000 people where the employees work towards installation and maintenance of solar equipment.
Akon and his partners have done something great that African people will forever be indebted to them. It is learnt that Akon’s company is the fastest growing solar-powered electricity provider in the world. His supreme efforts and contribution to the African people are undoubtedly great that cannot be put it in words.
Akon was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent much of his childhood in the West African country Senegal. He is known for the knack of supreme singing skills. He has provided many hit songs. ‘Akon Beautiful’, ‘Smack that’, ‘Lonely’, ‘Don’t matter’, ‘Hold my Hand’ and so on.