Akon announced yesterday Thursday at the second United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Forum in New York, his bid to launch a new solar Academy through his Akon Lighting Africa initiative. The initiative aims to bring electricity to millions Africans in need of electricity. The Solar Academy will seek to provide African engineers and entrepreneurs the skills needed to develop solar power. Teaching them how to install and maintain solar-powered electricity systems as well as micro grids, “which are really taking off in rural Africa”, according to the spokes person for Akon Lighting.
“We have the sun and innovative technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities. We now need to consolidate African expertise,” said Samba Baithily, Co-founder of Akon Lighting Africa.

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

“Seventy per cent of Africans are under 35, and creating sustainable jobs is vital, , so investing in solar power for the future can help in more ways than one,”the group said

There are 320 days of sunshine a year in Africa, the organization said in a statement, so harnessing solar energy is an ideal way to enable those without electricity to get it.