TVC E, BUSINESS – Founder , Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony O. Elumelu has commended the United States (U.S.) House of Representatives for the passage of the Electrify Africa Act.
The Act creates a framework for a major public-private partnership between the U.S and sub-Saharan African countries to help millions of people gain access to affordable and reliable electricity.
It also codifies access to electricity in Africa as a U.S foreign policy priority, thereby preserving President Barack Obama’s Power Africa Initiative for years to come.
Launched in 2013, Power Africa is an innovative partnership to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa where more than 600 million people currently lack access.
Elumelu through his investment company, Heirs Holdings has been in the forefront of promoting Africa’s power initiatives. In 2013, Heirs Holdings, made a commitment of $2.5 billion investment in the power sector to generate 2,000 megawatts (Mw) of power, about 20 per cent of the initial Power Africa target.
The bill, which was introduced in 2013 took nearly three years trying to get the measure through both chambers of Congress.
