Akon aja na mradi wa umeme kwa makazi milioni moja Afrika

Msanii wa Marekani mwenye asili ya Kisenegali, Aliaune Badara Thiam maarufu kama Akon, ameahidi kuleta mradi wa kuwawezesha waafrika kupata nishati ya umeme (mwanga) ambayo itasaidia takribani ya makazi ya waafrika zaidi ya milioni moja. Katika mradi huo Akon amesema atasaidia nchi 9 za Afrika magharibi, na afrika ya kati kwa mwaka huu 2014. Mradi huo aliouita "Akon Lighting Africa" utahusisha zaidi na usambazaji wa nishati ya umeme (mwanga) kwa njia ya Solar ikiwa ni kuleta umeme/mwanga kwenye sehemu za vijijini na sehemu zenye mkusanyiko wa wawatu "public places".

Mradi huo wa "Akon Lighting Africa" upo kwenye hatua za mwisho za ufunguzi rasmi ambao utakuwa mwanzoni mwa mwezi March huko Senegal. Akon ameshatembelea baadhi ya nchi 9, katika siku 9 akionana na Marais wa baadhi ya nchi hizo ikiwa pamoja na Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghambia. Pia ziara hiyo aliyoianza wiki iliyopita ambapo amekutana na Rais wa nchini mwake Mh. Macky Sall.

Other countries reported to be on the list of the artist`s mega energy plan are Equatorial Guinea, Congo and Cote d'Ivoire.

All these countries are battling crippling energy deficits, particularly in the rural areas. Akon has been meeting their heads of state and key officials.

REMOTE AREAS NEED ELECTRICITY

"We wanted to focus the project on rural areas because we often forget that our parents in these remote areas need electricity," he was quoted saying after meeting Burkinabe President Blaise Campore.

In Burkina Faso, it was disclosed that 200, 000 households will benefit at the initial stage, with plans to expand.

At a press conference in Bamako, Mali, Akon said that energy was a challenge to quality education, industries and sustainable infrastructure.

He said his project would allow millions of children to access to electricity and improve their opportunities through extended hours of study.

The artiste initiated the project but is working with an alliance of partners, with names including SOLEKTRA International, Byd Solar Technologies, Azuri technologies, NARI [[an affiliate of China Grid], ADS Global Corporation, and the NGO Give1 Project.

The team is expected to complete the project through a public-private partnership. Akon was however quoted saying it would take both the form of business and charity.

In Guinea, local media reported that he was also seeking, alongside this energy project, investment opportunities across the health and education sectors.

His delegation also includes a Chinese partner.

ALSO A BUSINESS MAN

Akon has since cemented his interests in Africa with fairly sizeable investments that include interests in the Senegal International Airlines and a diamond mine in South Africa.

"I'm also a businessman, but I want to do business that benefits Africa," he was quoted during his stay in the Guinean capital, Conakry.

The artiste told students at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry that all the resources needed to develop Africa were at the disposal of the continent, and that all Africans needed to do was to take the driving seat.

Akon also preached nationalism, calling on Guineans students, whom he reportedly met at the request of President Conde, to think first as Guineans before their individual ethnic groups.

Guinea was recently marred by violent ethnic clashes after a widely disputed poll that brought Prof Conde to power.

President Conde, according to local media reports, wanted the artiste to serve as inspiration to the youth and future leaders of his country.

This story originally appeared in Africa Review.