The Airtel Africa Foundation has invested US$6.2 million in education, financial inclusion,
environmental sustainability and digital inclusion programs during its first full year of
operations, with education receiving the largest share of funding.
This has been revealed in the Foundation’s inaugural annual report, released on Friday, which highlights the organization’s impact on millions of learners and communities across Africa through its four strategic pillars collectively known as FEED (Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion).
Among its key achievements, the Foundation connected 1,028 schools to the internet through a partnership with UNICEF, bringing the total to 3,296 across 13 countries. The initiative has also reached more than two million learners and nearly 39,000 teachers, while 64 zero-rated digital platforms provided over 11 million learners with free access to educational content.
The report also highlights progress under the School Adoption Program, which has seen
seven public schools fully renovated and a further 43 undergoing upgrades. The program combines infrastructure improvements with digital connectivity and student development
initiatives aimed at enhancing learning outcomes.
In a bid to strengthen Africa's technology talent pipeline, the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship awarded 257 full university scholarships to students in Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The scholarships are supporting studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and helping to nurture future technology leaders across the continent.
Commenting on the report, Airtel Africa Foundation Chair Segun Ogunsanya said the
organization was established to address inequalities in access to opportunity.
“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.
The report further underscores the Foundation's growing emphasis on measurable impact and long-term sustainable change across the communities it serves.
Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to expand several of its flagship programs, including extending its School Adoption Program to more than 80 schools, increasing the number of scholarships awarded to over 600 young people, and providing free internet connectivity to an additional 2,000 schools across the continent. It also intends to broaden digital skills training and financial inclusion initiatives to reach more underserved communities.
Ogunsanya further said the Foundation is well positioned to drive skills development and
create lasting change at both individual and household levels while working with
governments to support Africa's economic transformation.
The planned expansion reflects the Foundation’s commitment to scaling successful
interventions and widening access to education, digital connectivity and economic
opportunities for communities across Africa.
