Airtel Africa says it plans to transform the lives of 10 million people across the continent by 2030 through its philanthropic arm, Airtel Africa Foundation, with Nigeria expected to receive the lion’s share of the investments.
The announcement was made in Lagos on Tuesday at a press conference hosted by Airtel Africa and Airtel Africa Foundation, where senior executives unveiled a continent-wide strategy anchored on four priority pillars: Financial inclusion, Education, Environmental protection, and Digital inclusion (FEED).
Sunil Taldar, Group CEO of Airtel Africa, says Nigeria’s position as the company’s largest market makes it central to the Foundation’s agenda.
“Nigeria being our single largest market, a very large portion of the investment that will go through the Foundation into the work that the Foundation will be doing will come to Nigeria,” Taldar explains.
“Our success, we realise this, is linked to the prosperity of the continent. We cannot think of a situation where we can grow without the continent and the communities that we live in thriving.”
“Nigeria being our single largest market, a very large portion of the investment that will go through the Foundation into the work that the Foundation will be doing will come to Nigeria,” Taldar explains.
Airtel Africa Foundation to drive social impact across communities
According to Airtel, the Foundation’s initiatives will directly benefit classrooms, hospitals, rural communities, and cities, with a strong focus on education and technology as enablers of opportunity.
Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, says the Lagos launch represents more than corporate philanthropy — it signals a deeper connection between business growth and community impact.
“These initiatives are already touching lives in classrooms, in hospitals, in rural communities, in cities where digital access determines the difference between stagnation and opportunity,” Balsingh notes.
“Your presence here matters a lot to us. The stories you tell today will shape how millions perceive this new chapter of our life.”
Empowering through education, tech and partnerships
Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of Airtel Africa Foundation, outlines a broad portfolio of programmes that place education and youth empowerment at the centre.
Key initiatives include:
- Full undergraduate scholarships in STEM and technology fields.
- Internships across Airtel Africa and affiliates.
- Formal mentorship with industry leaders.
- Support for exchange programmes and student capstone projects.
The Foundation is also establishing innovation hubs and rural IT centres to expand access to digital literacy, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship support. Smart classrooms, IT laboratories, and co-curricular STEM programmes will modernise education while preparing young Africans for careers in emerging industries.
“We’re not transforming, no one can transform a community. We’re just empowering them to do what they can normally do,” Ogunsanya says.
“This is about doing good — about giving without expecting anything in return. Absolutely nothing. And that’s the essence of who we are as a Foundation.”
Women and youth are a priority, with flagship programmes like Tech4Her, which offers fully sponsored professional training in coding, cyber security, and other digital skills. Airtel employees themselves contribute time, mentorship, and expertise alongside funding, reinforcing the Foundation’s hands-on approach.
Women and youth are a priority, with flagship programmes like Tech4Her, which offers fully sponsored professional training in coding, cyber security, and other digital skills. Airtel employees themselves contribute time, mentorship, and expertise alongside funding, reinforcing the Foundation’s hands-on approach.
Collaboration with government and scale of impact
Ogunsanya highlights that the Foundation is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to support the Ministry’s “3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT)” scheme, which targets digital opportunities for 25,000 Nigerians.
Plans are also underway to launch technology hubs in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as centres for digital skills acquisition, innovation, and business incubation.
The Foundation says it has already achieved measurable impact in Nigeria:
- 100 scholarships awarded to students.
- 10 schools renovated or adopted.
- 26,000 individuals trained in digital and financial literacy.
These initiatives complement a $57 million partnership with UNICEF — $50 million in-kind and $7 million in cash — which has connected schools to the internet and trained teachers across several African countries.
Airtel Africa Foundation: Long-term vision for 2030
Looking ahead, the Foundation has set ambitious targets by 2030, including:
- Zero-rating digital learning platforms for six million young people.
- Connecting 5,000 schools to the internet.
- Enhancing learning environments for two million children.
- Awarding 500+ scholarships in technology fields.
- Equipping one million youth with digital skills, from basic to advanced levels.
Ogunsanya underscores why education remains the central pillar of Airtel Africa Foundation’s work:
“If you educate someone, at least you create a level playing ground for them to compete. Without education, you can’t compete with anyone. That’s why we decided to place our initial focus on education.”
With Nigeria standing as Airtel Africa’s largest market, the Foundation’s investments are expected to deliver lasting change, building a generation of young Africans empowered by technology, education, and opportunity, according to the mobile telephone group.
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