Airtel Africa Foundation has unveiled its inaugural annual report, highlighting a $6.2 million investment that expanded education, digital inclusion, financial access and sustainability programmes across African communities.
The philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc reported that its interventions reached millions of learners and communities across the continent, with education receiving the largest share of funding.
Education Receives Largest Share of Investment
Among the Foundation’s key milestones is to expand internet connectivity in schools through its partnership with UNICEF.
The initiative connected 1,028 additional schools to the internet, therefore increasing the total number of connected schools to 3,296 across 13 African countries. The programme reached more than 2 million learners and nearly 39,000 teachers.
Additionally, 64 zero-rated digital platforms provided more than 11 million learners with free access to educational content, helping bridge digital and educational gaps.
School Upgrades and Scholarships Expand Opportunities
The Foundation also invested in improving learning environments through its School Adoption Programme.
Under the initiative, seven public schools were fully renovated while 43 others are undergoing upgrades. The programme combines infrastructure improvements, digital access, and broader student development initiatives.
Through the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship, the Foundation awarded 257 full university scholarships to students in Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.
The scholarships are designed to expand access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and support the development of future African technology leaders.
Digital Skills and Inclusion Drive Community Impact
Beyond education infrastructure and scholarships, the Foundation focused on strengthening digital capabilities and economic participation.
A total of 30,530 youth and women received training through digital skills programmes implemented in partnership with national institutions, multilateral organisations, and private-sector partners.
Segun Ogunsanya, Chair of Airtel Africa Foundation, said the organisation was created to address inequality in access to opportunity 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,” he said.
Focus on Long-Term Impact and Systems Change
According to the report, the Foundation is increasingly focusing on measurable outcomes and long-term systems transformation to deliver sustainable development impact.
Furthermore, the Foundation plans to expand successful programmes by extending its School Adoption Programme to more than 80 schools, increasing scholarships to over 600 young people, connecting an additional 2,000 schools to free internet, and scaling digital skills and financial inclusion programmes to underserved communities.
“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,” Ogunsanya added.