World Bank Group don commit $8.2bn to bring light to many places for Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of their plan to solve one of di region’s big problems wey don dey for long time, because nearly 600 million people still dey live without light.

Dis money na di backbone of “Mission 300,” wey dem do together with African Development Bank Group, to make sure 300 million people get light by 2030. For inside dis plan, World Bank go take care of 250 million people, and African Development Bank go do di remaining 50 million.

According to wetin di bank post for their website, dem don already raise extra $1.2bn from public and private money, and dem dey work for more than 40 countries, with over 150 projects wey dey go on.

Even though small progress don happen, lack of light still dey hold down economic growth for di region. Without reliable light, hospitals no fit work well, farming no go produce plenty, and businesses go pay too much money for operation, wey dey spoil job opportunities and industrial development.

World Bank tok say dis programme no be only to spread light, but to also change di economy, connecting light supply to job creation, internet access, and industry growth.

World Bank President Ajay Banga tok say, “Light na di foundation of jobs, opportunity, and economic growth. Dat na why Mission 300 no be just target; e dey create real changes wey go cut costs, strengthen power companies, and bring private investment.”

Di main thing for inside dis initiative na wetin dem call National Energy Compacts — na each country get their own plan to attract investment, make power company work better, and follow long-term energy goals. Di programme also want bring more private companies to join, through competitive bidding, selling light across borders, and ways to reduce risk.

Dis one dey happen as development finance organizations dey work together more to solve Africa’s lack of light, wey many people see as big blockage to growth. Getting light go help small and medium businesses, food processing, factories, and digital services — all di areas wey fit create jobs for Africa.

African Development Bank Group President Sidi Tah tok say, “Reliable and affordable light na di fastest way to help small and medium businesses, food processing, digital work, and industry. If you give a young entrepreneur light, you don give them salary.”

For households, getting light go better living standard — make cooking safer, give access to information, better education, and make hospitals work well with good light and fridge for medicines.