Nigeria Digital Economy Cannot Be Outsourced – Airtel

The Chairman of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, on Wednesday, said that the future of Nigeria’s digital economy cannot be outsourced but built locally.

He disclosed when Airtel Africa Foundation, officially onboarded 75 undergraduate scholars across seven top-tier Universities across the Country.

The scholars were selected on merit from thousands of applicants. They will receive a comprehensive support package including a consolidated N500,000 stipend, a brand-new laptop, and mentorship throughout their four-to-five-year academic journey.

Speaking at the event, Balsingh said the initiative is positioned as a critical response to the continent’s demographic and economic realities.

“Africa is young, Nigeria is even younger. And this is just not a statistic; it’s more of a responsibility. And the future of our digital economy is not going to be imported, it’s going to be built locally by young people who understand the context of the country, the nation, the culture, and the food,” Balsingh stated.

“Our mission at Airtel Nigeria is to connect people to opportunity. Not just through networks, but through knowledge, skill and confidence. We do not see youth development as charity; we see it as vision building.”

Balsingh underscored the strategic necessity of such investments, linking youth empowerment directly to macroeconomic stability and innovation. He stressed that for a responsible corporate entity, engagement with the academic sector is non-negotiable.

“When young people succeed, economies grow, innovation accelerates, and social stability improves. And investing in youth is not optional; it is strategic, long-term, and it is a responsible investment. “This scholarship is not just a check. It is a signal that while opportunity may not exist everywhere, talent definitely does. And our job as a corporate citizen is to close this gap.”Balsigh said.

The Chairman highlighted the Foundation’s deliberate partnership with seven “pillar” universities, describing tertiary institutions as a “national asset.” He noted that the collaboration is designed to bridge the pervasive gap between academic curricula and industry demands, a synergy that is critical in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

“Universities recently took an ancillary approach, and we consider them as a national asset. That is why we partnered with seven of the best and most pious universities in Nigeria for the first edition of this program. Partnerships like this ensure alignment between academia and the industry. And the future demands collaboration; no single institution can do this,” he said.

Balsingh reinforced this commitment to national digital agendas. Balsingh confirmed Airtel’s active role in the federal government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program. He framed this alignment as a core business function rather than a peripheral CSR activity.

“Through Airtel Nigeria. We are an active partner of the 3MTT, the 3 Million Technical Talent Program, which is a bold national initiative to build Nigeria’s technical workforce. And the goal here is scale.

“3 million Nigerians with globally relevant digital skills. And our contribution includes infrastructure support and ecosystem collaboration. And programs like 3MTT reflect our belief that skills are the new currency, digital interest is economic power.” Balsingh added.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, a former CEO of Airtel Africa, challenged the scholars to view the award as a contract of excellence.

He noted that the scholarship falls within the global technological shift toward Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science, warning that Africa could be left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He underscored the pace of global technological change, positioning the scholars as the vanguard of Africa’s response. According to him, the world is changing. AI, data science, and the fourth industrial revolution are here. Data is a big deal. And it is happening very quickly for all of us. But the question is, will Africa lead, or are we going to be left behind again? I believe we’re not going to be left behind.

Dr Ogunsanya detailed the Foundation’s financial and material commitments, with equal emphasis on the conditions attached, urging students to maintain top-tier academic performance to renew the scholarship annually.

“For every successful fellow, for every one of you, we are providing a consolidated amount of 500,000 Naira. On top of this, every fellow receives a brand new laptop. It is impossible to build a digital future without the tools to build, to design, and to create,” he stated.

“Although I must say, for the full duration of the program, four or five years, if you meet your criteria, we will be on every step with you, but you must earn your scholarship every year. The one thing you taught me. And academic excellence is a major prerequisite for continuing scholarship.”

He underscored the real-world impact of the initiative, which is about a beneficiary whose scholarship had literally altered the trajectory of a life in crisis.

He, however, concluded by redefining the metrics of corporate legacy, shifting focus from market share to human impact. “How is legacy measured? Is it not about how many awards you’ve won or how many SIM cards have been sold? It is ultimately measured by how many lives you save. How many people have we lifted out of poverty? That’s the true legacy of any great company. And I’m happy that we’re raising this legacy today.” Ogunsanya said.