The Airtel Africa Foundation has officially inducted its first group of Nigerian scholars into the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship, a continent-wide initiative designed to support undergraduates pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

At a ceremony hosted at Airtel Nigeria’s headquarters in Lagos, the foundation's chairman, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, and Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh presented full-ride scholarship awards to 70 exceptional students selected from universities across the country.

Students Selected from Leading Nigerian Universities

The beneficiaries are currently enrolled in technology-focused programmes at several prominent Nigerian institutions, including:

  • University of Lagos
  • Obafemi Awolowo University
  • University of Benin
  • Tai Solarin University of Education
  • University of Ilorin
  • Ahmadu Bello University
  • University of Nigeria

According to the Foundation, the scholars were chosen from thousands of applicants through a rigorous selection process managed independently over nearly six months.

A Fully Funded Pathway into Tech

The Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship offers comprehensive financial support designed to remove barriers that often prevent talented students from completing STEM education.

Each scholar receives:

  • Full tuition coverage
  • Laptop computers
  • Living stipends
  • Essential academic resources
  • Career and mentorship support

In addition, fellows receive ₦500,000 annually throughout the duration of their programmes, which may span four or five years depending on the course of study.

Beyond financial support, participants will be integrated into a structured mentorship network that provides academic guidance and professional development opportunities. The programme aims to equip students with the skills and industry exposure necessary to transition from university classrooms into the global technology workforce.

Joining a Growing Pan-African Fellowship Network

Nigeria’s newly inducted scholars become part of a broader community of Airtel Africa Foundation fellows studying across multiple countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and India.

This expanding network reflects the foundation's long-term ambition to nurture a pipeline of highly skilled African tech professionals capable of driving innovation across the continent.

Building Africa’s Future Through Education

Speaking at the induction ceremony, Dr Segun Ogunsanya stressed that initiatives like the Tech Fellowship are critical to shaping Africa’s future in an increasingly digital world.

True legacy is not measured by the awards we win or the volume of SIM cards we sell; it is measured by the lives we save, the people we feed, and the students we support when the line between success and failure is at its thinnest.

At the Airtel Africa Foundation, we believe that lifting people out of poverty is the ultimate benchmark of a great company. Today, we are writing that legacy by tilting the balance in favour of the brilliant but underserved, ensuring that the fourth industrial revolution, driven by AI and data science, is built by African talent for the African continent.

Youth Development as a Strategic Priority

Also addressing the scholars, Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh highlighted the company’s belief that investing in young people is essential to national progress and economic growth.

At Airtel Nigeria, we view youth development as essential nation-building. When young people succeed, innovation accelerates, and social stability improves. By connecting these brilliant scholars to knowledge, skills, and confidence, we are fulfilling our core mission to connect people to opportunity.

To our recipients: you earned your place here through merit and discipline. You are now ambassadors of excellence, and we expect your leadership to be defined by your conduct as you help shape a more inclusive digital future for Nigeria.

Read More: Airtel Nigeria Expands Internet Access With a New Southern Gateway

Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Economy

The Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship forms part of a wider strategy by the Airtel Africa Foundation to support technology education, youth empowerment, and digital skills development across the continent.

By bridging the gap between academic training and real-world industry needs, the programme aims to ensure that Africa’s next generation of engineers, developers, and data scientists are equipped to compete in a global digital economy.

As the demand for advanced digital skills continues to rise worldwide, initiatives like this fellowship reinforce the growing recognition that talent development is becoming one of the most valuable currencies in the modern knowledge economy.