Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has pledged to support digital and technology skills training for 25,000 young Nigerians across 80 local government areas.
The initiative will be delivered under the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, a presidential mandate aimed at equipping young Nigerians with essential digital and technology skills to enhance the country’s global competitiveness.
Additionally, Airtel Africa announced 10 scholarships for Nigerian students to pursue technology-focused courses at Plaksha University in India under the Airtel Africa Fellowship. Managed by the Airtel Africa Foundation, these scholarships aim to equip Nigerian youth with cutting-edge digital and innovation skills, reinforcing the company’s commitment to bridging the talent gap in the technology sector and supporting Nigeria’s ambition to become a global tech hub.
The commitments were announced during a meeting at State House in Abuja between Airtel Africa Chairman, Sir Sunil Bharti Mittal, Group CEO Sunil Taldar, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Discussions focused on Airtel Africa’s continued investments in Nigeria’s telecom and digital economy.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Sir Sunil Bharti Mittal reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic importance to Airtel Africa and its dedication to supporting the government’s digital transformation agenda.
“Nigeria remains a key market for Airtel Africa, and we are fully committed to supporting the government’s efforts to drive digital transformation. Through initiatives such as the Airtel Africa Fellowship and 3MTT, we are ensuring that young Nigerians gain access to world-class education and digital skills.
“We commend President Tinubu’s vision for a technologically advanced Nigeria and are dedicated to playing our part in making that vision a reality,” Mittal stated.
He also highlighted the progress made through the Airtel-UNICEF Reimagine Education Programme, which has onboarded 1,260 schools and over 600,000 students onto digital learning platforms such as the Nigerian Learning Passport (NLP).
Mittal further reaffirmed Airtel Africa’s commitment to network expansion, service quality, and financial inclusion, welcoming the recent designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). This designation, he said, is a crucial step in protecting and expanding Nigeria’s digital backbone.
Airtel Africa also reiterated its commitment to financial inclusion, particularly through its subsidiary SmartCash Payment Service Bank (SmartCash PSB), which continues to drive digital financial services across the country.
Airtel Africa Group CEO, Sunil Taldar, also expressed the company’s dedication to Nigeria’s digital future, stating:
“Airtel is deeply invested in Nigeria’s digital economy. We are expanding our network, enhancing financial inclusion, and creating new opportunities through technology and innovation.
“Our collaboration with the government through initiatives like the Airtel Africa Fellowship and 3MTT ensures that Nigeria remains a leader in Africa’s digital revolution.”
Airtel Africa reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to drive connectivity, digital skills development, and financial inclusion, positioning Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s digital economy.