Recording artist Akon has launched “Akon Lighting Africa” in an effort to bring electricity to one million African households by the end of the year.

More than two-thirds of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is without electricity. The Akon Lighting Africa initiative will address this concern by creating replicable, scalable and cost-effective energy solutions in partnership with GIVE1 PROJECT and Solektra International.

Akon arranged meetings with heads of state from Senegal, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo and the Ivory Coast earlier this month. The artist and his delegation have begun touring the nine countries to engage leaders and key stakeholders in actionable dialogue to immediately begin addressing Africa’s energy issue.

“We are extremely pleased by the overwhelmingly positive response of government leaders to embrace a public-private partnership that aims to address access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative is given further validity and momentum based on the support of these nations and their executives and advisors,” says Akon.

The initiative will support the installation of solar equipment in households to improve energy sufficiency. As one of the benefits, Akon Lighting Africa will give millions of children access to electricity in order to improve the quality of their education through extended study hours.

Founder and President of GIVE1 PROJECT ThioneNiang says, “This initiative gives a unique opportunity to bring partners across the spectrum to address the most important needs to Africa’s development. All of us in the African diaspora can play a role in advancing the continent.  Without electricity our children cannot study and our hospitals cannot function. The time is now and it’s up to us to make a lasting impact for a new Africa.”