The bill which creates a framework for a major public-private partnership between the United States and Sub-Saharan African countries to help millions of people gain access to cheap electricity took nearly three years to get the measure through both chambers of Congress.
The bill 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.
Power Africa was initiated in 2013 and is an innovative partnership to double access to over 600 million people who currently lack access to it in the Sub Saharan Africa.
Tony Elumelu through his investment company, Heirs Holding has been at the forefront of promoting Africa's power initiative.
Elumelu said that ,
"Power is a cross-cutting issue that impacts job-creation, education, healthcare delivery, food, security, communications and virtually every other sector of commercial activity".
The Electrify Africa Act passed by US Congress now goes to President Obama for his signature.
Elumelu thanked Representatives, Ed Royce and Eliot Engel, Senators Bob Corker, Ben Cardin, Jeff Flake, Chris Coons and Ed Markey for their friendship towards Africa and their bipartisan leadership to move this important legislation forward and it is his hope that President Obama signs the bill as soon as possible.
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