BET to honor Akon with Global Good Award

Black Entertainment Television (BET) has revealed that singer and serial entrepreneur Akon will be honored with the Global Good Award at the 2016 BET Awards ceremony slated for this Sunday June 26.

The Global Good Award is part of the BET Awards and honors individuals championing causes around the world. The award aims to highlight those who have positively made an impact and heightened awareness in different parts of the world.

This will be the second annual Global Good Award to be awarded – the inaugural honor (last year) – went to former Miss Tanzania Millen Magese for her tremendous efforts in raising awareness about endometriosis – a debilitating gynecologic condition affecting many women globally.

Akon, 43, a Grammy Award nominee, two-time multi-platinum musical artiste, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, will be honored with the prestigious award for his involvement in a Lighting Africa campaign that is aimed at providing electricity is various parts of rural Africa.

Akon launched the initiative – named “Akon Lighting Africa” – which is working to power the homes of over 600 million people in more than 11 countries.

BET has also acknowledged his other efforts: “He also helped launch the Solar Academy in Bamako, Mali, where engineers are being trained on how to develop and deliver solar power, and has expanded his impact beyond Africa by teaming up with governments in several Latin American countries, including Brazil, to bring electricity to needy homes.”