The first training provided by the Solektra Solar Academy was held end of January 2016 in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States Renewable Energy Association (APER-CEDEAO). 19 young people from 8 African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Republic of Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo) have received both theoretical and practical training about solar technologies. This first session is the result of a strong partnership between Solektra International and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) led by Mr. Mahamah Kappiah.
Under the supervision of a strong pedagogical team, composed of 8 experts in renewable energy, the participants were given the opportunity to better understand the potential of solar energy in Africa and especially in the ECOWAS zone, while learning more about specific technical issues such as the design of photovoltaic systems, the challenges of decentralized electrification and best ways to optimize solar water-pumping systems.
"With this training, opened to young people from the APER-CEDEAO, we celebrate the official start of the Solektra Solar Academy, which aims to train a new generation of technicians and engineers specializing in renewable energy and able to support the development of the solar industry in Africa," explained Solektra Solar Academys Director Patrice Dangang. "The Academy is able to propose quality courses meeting international standards, thus creating job opportunities for young people, he added.
The training session brought together an international group of trainees and reflects the Solektra Solar Academys pan African vision for the development of the continent. "We had access to very good trainings, but on top of that we had the possibility to share our experiences, to meet people from other countries and even initiate discussions about potential joint projects that we could implement together in the future," stated Sidy Bouya Ndiaye, an electrical engineer from Senegal.
The session was also marked by another significant event, the general assembly of the APER-CEDEAO, which appointed Mr. Samba Bathily, cofounder and CEO of Solektra International and the Solektra Solar Academy, as Honorary President. The appointment of Mr. Samba Bathily is a way to thank him for his support to the association and his personal commitment to the development of the solar industry and the empowerment of Africans.
