PR TIMES AFRICA PRTimesAfrica (March 2016) | Page 14

Not one to be drowned in the oceans of fame, and being ever conscious of his deep
African roots, he also founded his own charity, Konfidence Foundation, that works
with underprivileged children in Africa. In partnership with Samba Bathily and Thione
Niang (with whom he grew up in Kaolack, a town without electricity) he has started
the Akon Lighting Up Africa project which aims to provide over 600million Africans
with electricity, mainly through solar energy. The project now provides electricity in
over 14 African countries, while employing over 5000 young Africans who supply
and maintain solar equipment. The group has launched a Solar Academy which will
teach students about using solar panels by which they can light Africa. “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 Akon
Lighting Africa.
“Renewable energy is in the same position now competing with the traditional way of
energy,” said Akon, who is working innovatively on renewable energy on a continent
that averages 320days of sunlight a year, “ultimately, we really have to pay attention
how the world is moving forward and if we don’t pay attention, of course the people
in the renewable energy space will eventually override the people with the traditional
energy resources.”
14 | PRTIMES AFRICA MARCH 2016