The Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with UNICEF, has unveiled an ambitious plan to positively impact more than 10 million people across Africa by 2030 through scholarships, education support, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, and financial literacy initiatives.
The announcement was made on Tuesday at a world press conference in Lagos, where the foundation was formally launched.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said the initiative would transform Africa’s socio-economic landscape by equipping young people with digital skills and access to education.
“We gather today to officially present the Airtel Africa Foundation to the world. This foundation carries forward our tradition of social investment and multiplies its reach with a sharper focus, a stronger platform, and a groundbreaking vision. These initiatives are already catching light in classrooms, in hospitals, in rural communities, and in cities, where digital access determines the difference between stagnation and opportunity,” Balsingh stated.
He explained that the foundation was already equipping schools with digital devices, providing internet connectivity, and training teachers to prepare young Africans for participation in the digital economy.
The Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Sunil Taldar, noted that the programme was both a social mission and a business imperative. “We have visited over 1,200 schools, impacted more than one million students, and trained 17,000 teachers in digital education across our 14 markets. A very large portion of the foundation’s investment will go into Nigeria,” he said.
Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, described the initiative as a catalyst for change and a lasting legacy, stressing that wealth is measured not by possession but by giving.
He explained that the foundation had already donated IT materials, installed smart TVs in classrooms, and refurbished six schools across Nigeria, with plans to expand to ten schools to ensure a balanced regional impact.
Among its flagship projects is the Airtel Africa Fellowship, which will offer full undergraduate scholarships in technology and STEM fields, alongside mentorships, internships, and exchange programmes designed to prepare Africa’s next generation of innovators.
Ogunsanya revealed that Airtel has already sponsored Nigerian students abroad and pledged that at least 100 more scholarships would be awarded to Nigerian students in the coming year.
He added that Airtel employees were also central to the mission, with over 1,100 staff members volunteering for mentorship, coaching, and community development projects across the continent.
Since its inception in July 2024, the Airtel Africa Foundation has been active in 14 countries, bridging the digital divide, building skills for the future, and promoting economic resilience.
