Akon will attend the Youth Connekt Africa Summit in Kigali
US based hip-hop artist Akon – Aliaume Damala Badara Thiam is expected to join more than 1,500 participants at the Youth Connekt Africa Summit scheduled on 19th -21st July in Kigali.
A Rwandan initiative, Youth Connekt is designed to realise demographic dividend by combining elements of skills development and entrepreneurship.
It also supports access to jobs and finance, awareness raising on issues related to youth development, and promotion of youth citizenship.
“Son of the Soil/Global Super Star/Impact Investo & co founder of Akon Lighting Africa, Akon now expected at Youth Connekt Africa Summit in Rwanda,” tweeted Njoya Tikum, the regional anti-corruption advisor for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) based in Addis Ababa.
Akon was contacted by UNDP which is a partner to the Music star in organizing Youth Connekt Africa.
Rwanda is among 14 African countries where Akon plans to launch his Akon Lighting Africa initiative that aims at bringing electricity to 600 million Africans, especially those in rural areas.
Launched in February 2014, The Akon Lighting Africa is reported to have secured $ 1billion credit line from a Chinese company – China Jiangsu International Group.
Besides the celebrated super star Akon, Jack Ma, the CEO and Founder of Alibaba Group is also expected to attend the summit.
“Legendary Chinese business magnate Jack Ma will visit Rwanda to share entrepreneurial tips with youths. We are in contacts and we expect him in Kigali for Youth Connekt Africa Summit,” Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philbert Nsengimana announced at Rwanda Day in Belgium last month.
The Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2017 will primarily focus on youth entrepreneurship and will explore available opportunities for the youth on the continent.
The three day summit is expected to attract top executives from global companies that operate in Africa, leaders of civil society organizations, Africa’s development partners, members of the academia.
Successful entrepreneurs, artists and youth opinion leaders from across the continent are also expected at the summit.
