Chairman, Heirs Holdings and Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, has called on the United States Congress to pass the ‘Electrify Africa Act’ stating that the passage in to law would make a world of difference in Africa.

“When you leave this place call your Representatives and the leadership of the House and ask them to pass the bill,” Elumelu the congress.

 
The bill, which would preserve and expand President Barack Obama’s Power Africa Initiative by codifying access to electricity as a U.S. foreign policy priority for Africa, has already been passed by the U.S. Senate and is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives next week.

 
Speaking at the Mariott Hotel in Washington D.C; venue of the “Power Africa Summit” on Thursday, January 28, 2016, Elumelu commended President Obama for working through the Power Africa Initiative to mobilise the private sector to invest $43 billion in the African power sector.

 
According to him, Africa must win the energy challenge if it seeks to become an industrial power in the 21st century, noting that “power outages on the continent must spark power outrages, the kind of outrage that ignites the activist in us.

 
“Power cuts across and has impact on healthcare delivery, job creation, education, food security communications and all other sectors of the economy.”

 
“It is unacceptable that 600 million Africans lack access to energy in the 21st century.”

Credit : Nigerian Tribune