Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with Airtel Nigeria, has launched of a landmark scholarship programme targeting Nigerian undergraduates in technology-focused disciplines.
The initiative, unveiled at a recent press conference in Lagos by Airtel Africa chairman, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, will benefit 100 students enrolled in select public universities nationwide.
The Undergraduate Tech Scholarship Programme is designed to support students from their first year to graduation. Each scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, study materials, and includes a living stipend, thereby eliminating key financial hurdles between students and their academic potential.
Eligible candidates are 100-level students admitted to Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and other ICT-related disciplines.
Partner institutions for this rollout include the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Benin (UNIBEN), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED).
Speaking on the initiative, Dr Ogunsanya emphasised that the programme reflects Airtel’s long-standing mission to bridge opportunity gaps for young Africans.
“At Airtel Africa Foundation, our vision has always been to create opportunities where talent meets ambition,” he said. “With this scholarship, we are investing in Nigeria’s future tech leaders, giving them the resources and confidence to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
Similarly, the initiative builds on Airtel’s broader educational commitments in Nigeria, which include partnerships such as the Reimagine Education Programme with UNICEF, the Adopt-A-School project, and its recent N1 billion investment in the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, described the new scholarship scheme as a strategic extension of the company’s core values and social responsibility pillars.
“The prioritisation of education as a pillar of our social investments becomes much stronger with these 100 new scholarships. They build on our ongoing work to enable inclusive, high-quality learning and digital skills training. Ultimately, for us as an organisation, the best way to equip the future is to arm it with cutting-edge education.” Balsingh stated.
The undergraduate scholarship is a component of the Airtel Africa Foundation’s FEED strategy, which focuses on Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Protection and Digital Inclusion. With digital transformation shaping economies worldwide, this scholarship programme represents a timely and targeted intervention placing young Nigerians at the heart of Africa’s tech-driven future.
