[size=14pt](CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama pledged $7 billion Sunday to help combat frequent power blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa.[/size]

Funds from the initiative, dubbed Power Africa, will be distributed over the next five years. Obama made the announcement during his trip to South Africa, the continent's biggest economy.

"Access to electricity is fundamental to opportunity in this age. It's the light that children study by, the energy that allows an idea to be transformed into a real business. It's the lifeline for families to meet their most basic needs, and it's the connection that's needed to plug Africa into the grid of the global economy," he said.

Two-thirds of the population of sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to electricity, including more than 85% of those living in rural areas, the White House said.

"A light where currently there is darkness -- the energy to lift people out of poverty -- that's what opportunity looks like," Obama told students at Cape Town University. "So this is America's vision: a partnership with Africa for growth, and the potential for every citizen, not just a few at the top."

The program includes $1.5 billion from the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and $5 billion from the Export-Import Bank, the White House said. Sub-Saharan Africa will need more than $300 billion to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, it said.

The preliminary setup will include Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique.

"These countries have set ambitious goals in electric power generation, and are making the utility and energy sector reforms to pave the way for investment and growth," a White House statement said.

Obama's three-nation African trip started in Senegal and will end in Tanzania this week. The visit aims to bolster U.S. investment opportunities, address development issues such as food security and health, and promote democracy.

It comes as China aggressively engages the continent, pouring billions of dollars into it and replacing the United States as Africa's largest trading partner.

Obama applauded China's investment in Africa, saying he is "not threatened by it."
Africa's greater integration into the global economy will benefit everyone with the potential creation of new jobs and opportunities, he said.

"I'm here because I think the United States needs to engage with a continent full of promise and possibility," Obama said. "It's good for the United States. I welcome the attention that Africa is receiving from China, Brazil, India and Turkey."

However, he urged African officials to ensure that those who invest in the continent and its natural resources benefit Africans in terms of jobs and other assets.

Obama also visited Robben Island, where anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela spent a majority of his 27-year imprisonment, on Sunday. And he spoke at Cape Town University, the site of a famous speech by Robert F. Kennedy at the height of apartheid in 1966.

Obama heads next to Tanzania, where he is scheduled to attend events until Tuesday.
5 things Obama wants young South Africans to know

CNN's Laura Bernardini contributed to this report

ballabriggs: Obama will do well to start by asking OBJ and Jona how much they have spent over the last 10 years and how much electricity we have today. $17 billion by OBJ alone.

Perhaps one needs to tell him the problem is not all about availability of funds.

On hearing the news, NEPA MD must have brought out his calculator to see how much of the $7 billion will probably get into his pocket.

0.05% of $7 billion = $350,000 *faints*

awodman: ...."These countries have set ambitious goals in electric
power generation, and are making the utility and energy
sector reforms to pave the way for investment and
growth," a White House statement said.....

this is a confirmation of the genuineness of the current Electricity reforms in Nigeria by the White House...

ballabriggs:

Bla bla bla, since 1985 when they pledged no more power failure to 2004 when they started the NIPP, they have always had "ambitious goals".

What we know today is, "we no get light" while billions of dollars have gone into reforms and electricity generation. These ambitious goals have little meaning.

awodman:
Oh!..that's how you now interpret it?..if he had made disparaging and damaging remarks about Nigeria you would have hung it solely on GEJ's head and leave out all the leaders from 1985 right?...

You can spin all what you like but the #Fact remains that the "ambitious goals" Obama is referring to is actually been carried out in GEJ's tenure...

ballabriggs:

Bla bla bla, was it also GEJ that initiated these "ambitious goals" in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Liberia? Was it also GEJ that initiated the NIPP? Did the NIPP not also have "ambitious goals" set?

Fact is we have spent billions of dollars over the past years, yet electricity supply is not commensurate with this spend.

Someone therefore needs to tell Obama, it is not all about the availability of funds. Obama will do well to start by asking where all the money spent over the years has gone.

REALITY101: We have an idiootic president and his name is Obama

mekaboy: THE SAME US GOVT THAT CALLS NIGERIAN GOVT CORRUPT WILL STILL GIVE OUT MONEY WHEN THEY KNOW IT WILL BE SHARED.

emmaeyo: Nigeria does not need money from the US to solve our light problem...Nigeria is meant to be a great nation, we are rich enough, with the smartest citizens. The problem is not the money, it has never been about the money... Nigeria should be the one changing the worlds view of Africa,... it's time Nigerians realize that Nigeria is not a poor nation, and the country should stop disguising itself as one....9ja 4eva

Princek12:

If we are so smart why are we still living in darkness in 2013?

Mr knowitall.:


But if the U.S doesn't give money yo complain that they dont do anything for Nigeria...and if they give money you complain

that they are giving it to corrupt politicians....Negros just cant be pleased..always complaining

ballabriggs: Obama will do well to start by asking OBJ and Jona how much they have spent over the last 10 years and how much electricity we have today. $17 billion by OBJ alone.
Perhaps one needs to tell him the problem is not all about availability of funds.
On hearing the news, NEPA MD must have brought out his calculator to see how much of the $7 billion will probably get into his pocket.
0.05% of $7 billion = $350,000 *faints*