MONROVIA, Montserrado – Senegalese-American musical icon, Aliaume Thiam, popularly known as Akon, has partnered with Bridge International Academies and the Ministry of Education to draw attention to the electricity shortage and the poor education system in Liberia.

Thiam arrived in Liberia on Wednesday, October 19 and held a news conference on Thursday at the Royal Grand Hotel, to launch the “Light to Learn” project, which aims to bring affordable solar energy in schools in Liberia and other countries.

According to the celebrity, the initiative will help realize his dream of empowering millions of people in Africa.

“My goal is to bring light to Africa through public-private partnerships and the ripple effect of this is job creation, safety, commerce, and supporting the African children to further their education,” Thiam said.

Thiam emphasized that the only way Africa can guarantee a bright future for its youthful population is to provide them with the necessary education. That education, he said, also requires a better learning environment.

He said he saw the provision of light as a recipe for that better environment.

As part of his commitment to the project, he said Solektra International will be the one providing all the solar energy needed for the initiative, in collaboration with his Akon Lighting Africa initiative.

Following his news conference, the celebrity visited the J.W. Pearson kindergarten and elementary school and was met on arrival by scores of Liberians, where the first solar light was dedicated.

Scores of Liberians turned out to welcome Akon at the J.W. Pearson School. Photo: Zeze Ballah

The J.W. Pearson kindergarten and elementary school is one of the 24 schools being operated by Bridge International Academies as part of the Ministry of Education’s Partnership Schools for Liberia initiative to see private organizations operate three percent of Liberia’s public primary schools.

Various performing groups took to the stage to entertain the audience, including Liberia’s own Takun J.

Education Minister George Werner said the initiative was a laudable one by Akon and Bridge. He noted that the project would help solve some of Liberia’s energy and education crises, adding, “A nation cannot be better without having a reliable energy and better educational sector.”

(L-R) Akon, Shannon May of Bridge International Academies, and Education Minister George Werner. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Shannon May, co-founder of Bridge International Academies, said the project is aimed at impacting public schools under the management of Bridge partnership schools

According to Shannon, Bridge is currently managing 24 schools across the country meant to improve the performance of primary and nursery pupils.

Shannon May, co-founder of Bridge International Academies. Photo: Zeze Ballah

May indicated that her organization is here to help solve Liberia’s energy and educational crises “by providing solar energy and creating suitable learning environments for the youthful population.”

“We want to change the lives of children and their parents through Light to Learn by making available solar energy in the various communities Bridge currently work,” May said.

She mentioned that in order to have a powerful society and a good learning environment that will be able to foster development and innovation, light, sustainable energy, and education should be prioritized.

“Bridge International Academies is engaged in doing such,” she added.

She emphasized that her organization believes in gender equality, something she said Bridge is encouraging parents to prioritize the education of their girls’ children.

On his third day in the country, the celebrity also visited the Zuluyee Public School in Nimba, where he was met on arrival by a jubilant crowd.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah