During a ceremony held at Airtel Nigeria headquarters in Lagos, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, Airtel Africa Foundation’s chairman, alongside Dinesh Balsingh, Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, presented the full-ride scholarship awards to 70 students from universities across Nigeria.

The undergraduates studying technology courses, were drawn from the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin, Tai Solarin University of Education, the University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Nigeria.

Selected from thousands of applicants through an independently managed process, which took nearly six months, these fellows are beneficiaries of Airtel Africa Foundation’s continentwide financial aid programme, which covers tuition, laptop computers, living expenses, and essential learning resources.

The Nigerian cohort joins a prestigious network of Airtel Africa Foundation fellows currently studying in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and India.

In his address, Dr. Ogunsanya, emphasised the need for initiatives such as the Airtel Africa Foundation’s undergraduate tech scholarship for the future of the continent.

The Airtel Africa Foundation Chairman said,

“True legacy is not measured by the awards we win or the volume of SIM cards we sell; it is measured by the lives we save, the people we feed, and the students we support when the line between success and failure is at its thinnest. At the Airtel Africa Foundation, we believe that lifting people out of poverty is the ultimate benchmark of a great company. Today, we are writing that legacy by tilting the balance in favour of the brilliant but underserved, ensuring that the fourth industrial revolution, driven by AI and Data Science is built by African talent for the African continent.”

Dr Ogunsanya further revealed that this fellowship, executed through Airtel Nigeria, is designed to bridge the gap where funding, skills, and opportunity often fail to meet.

In addition to the N500,000 yearly budget for the fellows’ four-year or five-year courses, each fellow would be integrated into a structured support system for academic guidance and career mentorship, intended to ultimately transition students from the classroom to the global tech workforce.

Addressing the students, Mr Balsingh emphasised that youth development is a strategic imperative for Airtel.

He said,

“At Airtel Nigeria, we view youth development as essential nation-building. When young people succeed, innovation accelerates, and social stability improves. By connecting these brilliant scholars to knowledge, skills, and confidence, we are fulfilling our core mission to connect people to opportunity. To our recipients: you earned your place here through merit and discipline. You are now ambassadors of excellence, and we expect your leadership to be defined by your conduct as you help shape a more inclusive digital future for Nigeria.”

The initiative underscores a broader commitment to technology education, youth development, and Nigeria’s digital economy.

By aligning academic excellence with industry requirements, Airtel Africa Foundation and Airtel Nigeria continue to demonstrate their dedication to skills as the new currency in a rapidly evolving global market.

This partnership aims to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion by providing free Internet connectivity and digital skills training to underserved communities in Rwanda, in connection with the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

ITU will provide digital skills training content to the DTCs under the Initiative along with other ITU regional capacity development activities.

In addition, ITU will facilitate networking opportunities related to promoting digital literacy and inclusion, which will enable access to expertise and best practices.

Speaking to the press, Mr. Sujay Chakrabarti, Airtel Rwanda managing director said

“Today’s partnership between the Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, and Cisco marks a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and empowering Rwandan youth with digital skills. This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when government, private sector, and international organizations come together to empower communities”.

The Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Rwanda, will equip DTC locations with routers, Wi-Fi and data packages at no cost, ensuring the effective rollout of training and access to digital educational platforms.

The landmark partnership aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to become a knowledge-based economy and complements national programmes such as ‘Connect Rwanda’ that promote access to smartphones and digital services for underserved communities.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting national development goals and closing the digital divide through meaningful collaboration,” said Ms. Esi Asare Prah, head of Programs at Airtel Africa Foundation on behalf of Dr Segun Ogunsaya, Chair of the Airtel Africa Foundation. “We are honoured to partner with ITU to bring this vision to life and contribute to Rwanda’s journey toward becoming a digitally empowered society” she added.

“Our partnership with Airtel Africa Foundation begins in Rwanda, where we are joining forces to strengthen digital skills in underserved communities to advance connectivity. This initiative lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration, as we aim to expand this work to other Digital Transformation Centres across Africa,’’ said Dr Emmanuel Mannaseh, regional director for International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Mr. Antoine Sebera, CEO of Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) said

“What we are seeing here today is partnership in action.

Statistics show that 900 million people in Africa remain unconnected, extra effort needs to be made to make sure that no one is left behind. This positions Rwanda a step ahead by being intentional to involve the youth.

These centres are going to play a transformative role in educating the youth to leverage AI. Digital Transformation is driving the world and Africa or Rwanda can not be left behind.

This initiative will provide each recipient with a grant covering tuition, accommodation, study materials, and a stipend from the first year of study through the final year.

This financial aid removes economic barriers, empowering students to dedicate their focus to academic and technical achievement in technology.

Eligible courses of study include Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and other ICT-related disciplines.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Ogunsanya affirmed that the scholarships represent the Foundation’s continued commitment to breaking down barriers for young Africans.

“At Airtel Africa Foundation, our vision has always been to create opportunities where talent meets ambition. With this scholarship, we are investing in Nigeria’s future tech leaders, giving them the resources and confidence to thrive in an increasingly digital world,” he stated.

Beneficiaries are selected from 100-level students enrolled in approved programmes in participating public universities across the country.

These institutions include the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED).

Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, noted:

“The prioritization of education as a pillar of our social investments becomes much stronger with these 100 new scholarships. They build on such other initiatives as our partnership with UNICEF on the Reimagine Education Programme, our Adopt-A-School project, and our 1 billion naira investment in the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) effort of the Federal Government. Ultimately, for us as an organisation, the best way to equip the future is to arm it with cutting-edge education.”

The undergraduate scholarship is a direct component of the Foundation’s four strategic pillars of Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Protection, and Digital Inclusion (FEED).

The strategy will be delivered through targeted initiatives under four core pillars namely Financial Empowerment, Education, Environmental Protection and Digital Inclusion (FEED).

Outlining the ambitious target, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, stated, “Our 2030 vision is a transformed Africa where over 10 million lives are directly improved through our interventions. We are not just donating resources, we are building a pipeline of talent and fostering innovation to ensure the global digital revolution leaves no African behind. This is a strategic, measurable commitment to unlocking the continent’s demographic dividend.”

The Foundation’s mission will be executed by creating a cycle of empowerment through targeted programmes. These include ‘Connecting Schools’, which provides free connectivity and devices, and the ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship’, offering full undergraduate scholarships in tech and STEM fields, complemented by mentorship and internships.

A key early success underscoring the Foundation’s impact is its ongoing partnership with UNICEF. This collaboration has already connected more than 1,800 schools, benefitted over one million students, and trained more than 17,000 teachers in digital education across the Foundation’s 14 markets of operation.

In addition, the Foundation will leverage its dedicated Employee Volunteer Programme, channelling the skills and passion of its people directly into community initiatives. For the 2025/26 financial year, the Foundation has set specific expansion targets, with programmes now active across all its operating countries, from Nigeria to Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Commenting on the company’s support for the Foundation, Sunil Taldar, Airtel Africa’s chief executive officer, said, “We cannot thrive in a place that is not thriving. This understanding is the very reason the Airtel Africa Foundation was born. It is our vehicle to catalyse transformation, by systematically investing in the pillars that underpin a resilient and dynamic society. We have remained dedicated to transforming lives both as a business imperative as well as our overarching philosophy. For us, helping to connect the unconnected, banking the unbanked and enabling businesses and economies to thrive are the three most significant objectives of our business.”

These scholars will pursue undergraduate studies in technology, including Artificial Intelligence, at Plaksha University in Mohali, India, an institution known for reimagining engineering education for the 21st century.

The Airtel Africa Fellowship, launched in September 2024, is a flagship educational initiative of the Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa, the leading telecom and mobile money services provider with operations across 14 African countries. The Fellowship aims to provide academically gifted but financially disadvantaged African youth with access to quality STEM education and global opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

According to Airtel Africa Foundation Chairman, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, “Beyond offering an opportunity to study in one of the most advanced universities in the world, this Fellowship is also about equipping Africa’s future tech leaders with up-to-date skills while nurturing their talent, drive, and ambition to change their communities and the world. We are immensely proud of Terence and Ali and are confident they will make Nigeria proud.”

The selection process, fully managed by Plaksha University, was competitive and rigorous; rooted in the university’s high standards and commitment to diversity.

Applicants were evaluated through a comprehensive process that considered academic excellence, leadership potential, personal drive, and alignment with Plaksha University’s mission.

From a broad pool spanning Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Tanzania, 21 candidates were shortlisted, with 13 completing both interview stages.

Following a final review by the university’s admissions committee, two candidates, both Nigerians, were presented with admission offers.

Through this collaboration, Airtel Africa Foundation not only supports the academic pursuits of the selected scholars but also contributes to a long-term vision: equipping Africa’s youth with advanced digital skills, nurturing innovation, and breaking cycles of poverty.

Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, further described the scholarships as crucial steps toward building the human capital needed for Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“Through high-calibre technology education like that which is offered through the Airtel Africa Fellowship, our hope is to contribute significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy by helping to train a large number of technical talents across the board,” he said.

As it is set to announce 100 additional local scholarships to more Nigerian undergraduates, this milestone reinforces Airtel Africa Foundation’s mission to empower African youth through its operational pillars of financial inclusion, education, environmental protection, and digital inclusion (F.E.E.D.), creating opportunities where talent exists but opportunity may be scarce.

“Today we received a N1 Billion grant from the Airtel Africa Foundation for our @3MTTNigeria programme towards training and empowering over 25,000 Nigerians with in-demand technical skills,” he wrote.

With this, Nigeria’s tech agenda is gathering pace — and the private sector is responding swiftly.

According to Tijani, the grant will cover hands-on training, community engagement, and job placement for participants — core aspects of the 3MTT project, which is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” vision. 

The goal is to build young Nigerians with future-proof skills and inject new energy into the country’s digital workforce.

“Grateful to the Airtel Africa Foundation for collaborating with us as we work to position Nigeria as a key player in the global technology landscape,” Tijani added.

But this didn’t come out of the blue. The groundwork was laid in February.

Back then, Airtel Africa’s top brass, Chairman Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal and CEO Sunil Taldar, met with President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. That visit went beyond a ceremonial. It brought firm pledges to back Nigeria’s tech aspirations with concrete programmes and funding.

Airtel Africa committed to supporting digital training for 25,000 young Nigerians across 80 local government areas under the 3MTT initiative. They also launched the Airtel Africa Fellowship — awarding 10 fully-funded scholarships for tech-focused degrees at Plaksha University, India.

“Nigeria remains a strategic market for Airtel Africa, and we are fully committed to support the government’s digital transformation agenda,” said Mr Mittal at the time. “Through initiatives like the Airtel Africa Fellowship and our investment in 3MTT, we are ensuring that the youth of Nigeria have access to world-class education and digital skills. We commend President Tinubu’s vision for a technologically advanced Nigeria and are committed to play our part in making that vision a reality.”

Airtel Africa has been expanding its footprint in Nigeria’s digital and telecoms space. From scaling financial inclusion through SmartCash PSB to onboarding over 600,000 students and 1,260 schools via the Airtel-UNICEF “Reimagine Education” initiative, the company is betting big on Nigeria’s future.

Their support for the 3MTT programme strengthens that posture. It’s not charity; it’s strategy. And it may well be working.

With unemployment still high and tech talent in global demand, this latest investment could become a turning point. The 3MTT initiative is always ambitious, training three million people is no small task, but with this kind of backing, it’s starting to feel more real.

There are still challenges. Infrastructure, internet access, curriculum design, and job placement logistics won’t fix themselves overnight. But what’s changed is the energy behind the effort. The stakeholders are starting to align — government, telcos, global institutions. That’s the hard part.

If Nigeria can keep this going, we may look back at this moment — this grant, this tweet, this week — as the one that kicked off a true digital transformation.

Until then, the numbers speak for themselves: one billion naira, twenty-five thousand young Nigerians, and the slow but steady rise of a new kind of workforce. One built not on oil or imports, but on code, creativity, and global relevance.

And for once, we’re not just watching the future happen. We’re building it.

The Fellowship aims to support deserving students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in Zanzibar.

Starting with an outlay of US$500,000, this program will benefit 10 undergraduate students, for their entire course duration of 4 years.

Founded in 2024 with a vision to foster a prosperous Africa, the Airtel Africa Foundation is dedicated to advancing digital and financial inclusion across the continent along with key focus on education and environmental protection.

This Fellowship is the maiden initiative undertaken to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled at IIT M Zanzibar.

It is designed to support students from 14 African countries, which are namely Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar and Seychelles.

Recipients of this scholarship will be known as ‘Airtel Africa Fellows’. They will receive 100% of their college fees i.e. US$12,000 as per the course fee structure of the Institute for a 4-year program. Additionally, to cover the living expense cost, US$500 will be given to all eligible students.

This initiative will aspire to transform, shape lives and nurture future leaders who will contribute to technological innovation and economic growth of Africa.

Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa, Zanzibar’s minister of Education and Vocational Training, said,

“IITM Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region. Providing access to this high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who are topping the IITM Zanzibar screening and test processes, through financial assistance, is an important priority for us. We are thankful to this support from Airtel Africa Foundation, which will enhance our own efforts in this direction.”

Dr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, said,

“We are pleased to partner with IIT Madras Zanzibar to provide opportunities for young Africans to access quality education. This initiative aims to contribute towards creating a prosperous and sustainable continent. We look forward to creating even more opportunities not just in education, but also in financial and digital inclusion, and environmental protection”.

The Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “IIT Madras is committed to establishing a world class campus in Zanzibar. We are delighted that Airtel Africa Foundation is joining hands with us in this effort. We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of bright young students to the IITM Zanzibar campus this year. We are immensely grateful to Airtel Africa Foundation for providing financial assistance for these future global leaders.”