Airtel Africa Foundation has announced that it committed $6.2 million to education, digital inclusion, financial inclusion and environmental sustainability initiatives across the continent in its first full year of operations, impacting millions of learners and communities.
The disclosure was contained in the Foundation’s inaugural annual report, which highlighted achievements recorded under its Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion (FEED) pillars during the reporting period.
According to the report, education accounted for the largest share of the Foundation’s investments, reflecting its commitment to expanding access to quality learning opportunities and digital resources across Africa.
One of the flagship achievements recorded during the year was the connection of 1,028 schools to the internet through its partnership with UNICEF, bringing the total number of connected schools to 3,296 across 13 African countries.
The initiative has provided digital access to more than two million learners and nearly 39,000 teachers, while 64 zero-rated digital platforms enabled over 11 million learners to access educational content at no cost.
The report further revealed that the Foundation improved learning environments through its School Adoption Programme, with seven public schools fully renovated and 43 others currently undergoing upgrades. The programme combines infrastructure development, digital connectivity and student support initiatives.
As part of its aim to strengthen Africa’s technology talent pipeline, the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship awarded 257 full university scholarships to students in Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The scholarships are focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines aimed at developing the next generation of African technology leaders.
The Foundation also disclosed that 30,530 young people and women benefited from digital skills training programmes implemented in partnership with governments, multilateral organisations and private-sector stakeholders.
Chairman of Airtel Africa Foundation, Segun Ogunsanya, said the organisation was established to address inequalities in access to opportunities across the continent
“The Airtel Africa Foundation was established to help dismantle barriers caused by unequal access to opportunity. While talent and ambition are abundant, access to education, digital tools and economic participation remains uneven. Through partnerships and our continental reach, we are committed to investing in communities furthest from opportunity,” Ogunsanya said.
He noted that the Foundation is increasingly focused on delivering measurable outcomes and driving long-term systemic change through its interventions.
Similarly, the Foundation plans to scale up its programmes by expanding its School Adoption Programme to more than 80 schools, increasing scholarship awards to over 600 young people, providing free internet connectivity to an additional 2,000 schools, and extending digital skills and financial inclusion initiatives to underserved communities.
Ogunsanya said the Foundation would continue to work with governments and development partners to support economic growth across the continent.
“As a Foundation, we are positioned to deliver skills development and lasting change at the individual and household level, while partnering with governments to unlock Africa’s economic transformation,” he added.
