The 43-year-old "Smack That" hitmaker grew up in Senegal and recently teamed up with Shell to create an innovative football pitch in Nigeria that allowed the local community to play football at night, reported Digital Spy.
He also has his own initiative, Akon Lighting Africa, which aims to provide electricity to Africa.
"I think you have to motivate people to want to do better, motivate them to want to believe that they can do it themselves, and more than anything you have to be in a position to empower them so they can do it themselves," Akon said.