Airtel Africa Foundation Launches Initiative to Drive Social Change, Impact 10 Million Lives by 2030
The philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, Airtel Africa Foundation, has announced its plans to directly empower the lives of 10 million people across the continent by 2030. This vision will be realised through targeted programmes organised under four core pillars: Financial Empowerment, Education, Environmental Protection, and Digital Inclusion (FEED).
Speaking on the goal in Lagos, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, said, “Our 2030 vision is a transformed Africa where over 10 million lives are directly improved through our interventions. We are not just donating resources, we are building a pipeline of talent and fostering innovation to ensure the global digital revolution leaves no African behind. This is a strategic, measurable commitment to unlocking the continent’s demographic dividend.”
The Foundation aims to achieve this mission by creating a cycle of empowerment through specific initiatives. These include ‘Connecting Schools’, which provides free connectivity and devices, and the ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship’, offering full undergraduate scholarships in technology and STEM fields, complemented by mentorship and internships.
A notable early success demonstrating the Foundation’s impact is its ongoing partnership with UNICEF. This collaboration has already connected more than 1,800 schools, benefited over one million students, and trained more than 17,000 teachers in digital education across the Foundation’s 14 markets.
Additionally, the Foundation will utilise its Employee Volunteer Programme, harnessing the skills and passion of its staff in community initiatives. For the 2025/26 financial year, the Foundation has set specific expansion targets, with programmes now active across all its operating countries, including Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Commenting on the company’s support for the Foundation, Airtel Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, stated, “We cannot thrive in a place that is not thriving. This understanding is the very reason the Airtel Africa Foundation was born. It is our vehicle to catalyse transformation by systematically investing in the pillars that underpin a resilient and dynamic society. We remain committed to transforming lives, both as a business imperative and as part of our overarching philosophy. For us, connecting the unconnected, banking the unbanked, and enabling businesses and economies to prosper are the three most significant objectives of our business.”