About N50 million has been disbursed to 100 students enjoying tertiary education scholarship from Airtel Africa Foundation.
Each of the recipients was given N500,000 in their first year of the four-to-five-year academic programmes under the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship Programme.
Airtel Africa Foundation came up with this initiative to support high-performing but financially disadvantaged 100-level students studying technology-related courses in public universities.
The funding package covers tuition, accommodation, stipends, and other essential materials such as laptop computers.
In a statement from the organisation, it was disclosed that the Airtel fellows were selected through an independent process from accredited public universities across Nigeria and are enrolled in courses, including Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), among others.
Participating institutions in the first batch of the scholarship scheme are 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).
“We are not just funding education; we are building a pipeline of skilled innovators who will contribute meaningfully to Africa’s digital economy.
“The transparency of this process and the full delivery of our commitment to these 100 scholars are matters of great pride for the Foundation,” the chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said.
Also speaking on the progress, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, noted that the initiative reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to empowering the youth through education and digital inclusion.
“At Airtel Nigeria, we believe that the future of our country lies in the hands of our youth. This N50 million disbursement is proof that when we say we are committed to empowering young Nigerians, we mean it fully and transparently. I congratulate every scholar and encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. Your success is our success.”
The Airtel Fellowship Tech Fellowship forms part of the foundation’s efforts to equip African youth with advanced digital and technical skills, within its broader F.E.E.D agenda which focuses on Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental protection and Digital Inclusion. Beyond financial support, the initiative is designed to equip beneficiaries with the skills, mentorship, and exposure required to thrive in an increasingly digital world.