Airtel Invests in Nigeria’s Future Leaders with Landmark Tech Scholarship Programme for 100 Undergraduates

Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with Airtel Nigeria, has launched its Undergraduate Tech Scholarship Programme, offering full academic support to 100 Nigerian students pursuing degrees in information and communication technology (ICT) fields.

Announced at a press conference in Lagos, the initiative underscores Airtel’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of African innovators by removing financial barriers and enabling academic excellence.

The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, study materials, and stipends for selected students from their first year through graduation. Beneficiaries are drawn from top public universities, including the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria (Nsukka), Ahmadu Bello University, University of Benin, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, and Tai Solarin University of Education.

Eligible fields of study include Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and other ICT related disciplines.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of Airtel Africa, said the scholarship represents a direct investment in Nigeria’s digital future.

At Airtel Africa Foundation, our vision has always been to create opportunities where talent meets ambition. Through this initiative, we are investing in the next generation of tech leaders who will drive Africa’s transformation,” Ogunsanya stated.

Airtel Nigeria CEO, Mr. Dinesh Balsingh, described education as a cornerstone of the company’s social investment strategy, citing the new scholarships as a continuation of Airtel’s broader educational interventions.

“These 100 new scholarships strengthen our education pillar and complement initiatives like our partnership with UNICEF on the Reimagine Education Programme, our Adopt A School project, and our ₦1 billion support for the Federal Government’s Three Million Technical Talent initiative,” Balsingh said.

The Airtel Undergraduate Tech Scholarship aligns with the Foundation’s four core pillars financial inclusion, education, environmental protection, and digital inclusion and aims to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap while fostering innovation and sustainable growth.

Through this initiative, Airtel Africa is not just funding education, it is building the human capital that will power the continent’s digital economy.