Akon to launch solar academy in Mali

Five-time Grammy nominated hip-hop artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Akon will open a solar training institution in the next few weeks aimed at equipping African engineers and entrepreneurs with skills in the solar industry.

Akon, made the announcement at the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Forum in New York late last week.

The solar academy which will be located in Bamako, Mali, will teach students how to install and maintain solar-powered electricity systems and micro grids, harnessing the 320 days of sunshine that most parts of Africa receive annually.

The institution will follow on from the his Akon Lighting Africa initiative, which was launched in 2014 to bring solar electricity power to 600 million Africans that currently live off the grid.

According to Akon, about 70 percent of Africans are aged under 35, making the creation of sustainable jobs vital for the continent’s economic future. Solar’s viability in many parts of Africa make it a sound investment in more ways than one.

The Akon Lighting Africa initiative has grown and is is now present in 14 African countries – and has provided solar power to more than 1 million households by subsidizing the cost of installation for consumers keen on replacing kerosene with solar energy.