After a few times meeting and talking with Dr. Emmanuel O. Akognon it’s obvious he’s not your everyday “you’re gonna burn in hell” preacher. With a Phd in Ministry from Golden Gate Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Dr. Emmanuel O. Akognon was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and first pastored in British Columbia,Canada. Now the multilingual senior pastor of Village Baptist Church, Marin City wants to use the power of the sun to transform the lives of rural people who have no access to electricity. “Americans take for granted that everytime they turn on an electrical switch, the lights will turn on. That is not case in some parts of Nigeria or Benin where there is no electricity or running water. And in some of the larger more populated cities daily blackouts are common place” said Reverend Akognon. Africa has big political and systemwide problems that are preventing new solar energy developments from reaching the people who need it the most. While there have been projects that have been successful such as the solar energy drip project used to pump water for irrigation systems. Akognon wants to put small solar energy panels and lights into the hands of local villagers.
He believes once local people start using them it will transform the region and create broad interest around the world. Dr. Emmanuel O. Akognon began researching solar energy in 2006 after a trip to his birthplace and to Benin on the west African coastline. He also traveled to China to build ties with solar makers and spent time at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland CA. This past week he spoke to his congregation about the purpose of mission in general and his mission to help bring electricity to parts of Africa using small solar panels. The small solar systems will allow people to read at night, decrease health problems and accidents caused by kerosene…a common lighting source in rural Africa.
Through the nonprofit Better Africa Foundation, Dr. Emmanuel O. Akognon will return to West Africa in late September to begin his mission of supplying 1000 homes with small solar power and lights.
Keep the good job going! The Lord will strengthen you!