Airtel Africa Foundation invests $6.2m in education, digital inclusion

Airtel Africa Foundation has just published its first-ever annual report, which reveals that in its first full year of operation, it has invested $6.2 million in programmes in Education, Financial Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion across Africa.

Under the Funding priorities of the Foundation’s Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion (FEED) framework, education was the highest priority, according to the report.

One of the key achievements noted this year was linking of 1028 schools to internet through UNICEF partnership in 13 African countries, resulting in a total of 3296 schools connected to internet across Africa. It has helped over two million learners and almost 39,000 teachers.

The Foundation also shared that 64 zero-rated digital learning platforms were used to bring access to free learning content to over 11 million learners.

As part of its School Adoption Programme, seven public schools were renovated completely and 43 others are in the process of being upgraded. The programme consists of infrastructure development, digital and student development activities.

To support STEM education, Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship gave 257 full scholarships to students in Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to study at the University of their choice. The programme is aimed at building an African tech workforce that will drive the next generation of technology leaders, said the Foundation.

Furthermore, 30,530 youth and women were provided with digital skills training through programmes being implemented in collaboration with governments, multi-lateral institutions and private sector organisations.

Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of Airtel Africa Foundation, stated that the foundation was created to tackle inequalities in access to education, technology and economic participation that hinder opportunities.

The Airtel Africa Foundation was created to address unequal access to opportunity as there is immense talent and ambition but access to education, digital tools and economic participation is not uniform, he added.

The report also noted the Foundation’s focus on measurable impact and systemic change over the long-term.

In addition, the Foundation is seeking to grow its School Adoption Programme to over 80 schools, grow scholarships to over 600 beneficiaries, offer complimentary internet connectivity to a further 2,000 schools, and roll out the digital skills and financial inclusion programmes to underserved communities throughout the continent.

The Foundation will continue its efforts with governments and partners to move skills development and support Africa’s economic transformation forward, said Ogunsanya.