The Airtel Africa Foundation (AAF), the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, has released its inaugural annual report, highlighting its impact across the continent during its first full year of operations.
According to the report, the Foundation committed $6.2 million to programmes under its Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion (FEED) strategy, with education receiving the largest share of investment.
One of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives is its partnership with UNICEF to improve digital learning. During the reporting period, 1,028 additional schools were connected to the internet, bringing the total number of connected schools to 3,296 across 13 African countries. The initiative currently benefits more than two million learners and nearly 39,000 teachers.
The foundation also supported access to digital education through 64 zero-rated online learning platforms, enabling more than 11 million learners to access educational content free of charge.
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Beyond connectivity, AAF invested in improving learning environments through its School Adoption Programme. Seven public schools were fully renovated during the year, while 43 others underwent infrastructure upgrades combining classroom improvements, digital access and broader student development initiatives.
The report further highlights efforts to expand access to science and technology education. Through the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship, 257 students received fully funded university scholarships in Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses.
In addition, more than 30,500 young people and women received digital skills training through programmes implemented in partnership with governments, development agencies and private sector organisations.
In Uganda, through the Airtel Africa Foundation (AAF), 20 undergraduate students have benefited from the Tech Fellowship Programme, receiving fully funded scholarships that will cover the full duration of their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses at university.
Under the School Adoption Programme, four schools–three primary schools and one secondary school–have been selected for support, with an additional six schools expected to join the programme in 2026. The initiative will provide classroom and sanitation infrastructure improvements, as well as fully equipped computer rooms to enhance digital learning.
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The foundation also sponsored 100 women to participate in the intensive five-week online Tech4Her programme, where they acquired certifications in high-demand technology fields, including Linux Administration, Cybersecurity, SQL and Ethical Hacking, DevOps, and Data Analytics.
Through Airtel’s partnership with UNICEF, 100,450 students and 4,305 teachers across Uganda are benefiting from monthly internet connectivity provided to 285 school computer rooms, improving access to digital learning resources and technology-enabled education.
Speaking about the foundation’s achievements, Airtel Africa Foundation Chairperson Segun Ogunsanya said the organisation was established to address inequalities in access to education, technology and economic opportunities.
“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,” Ogunsanya said.
The foundation plans to scale its interventions in the coming year, including expanding the School Adoption Programme to more than 80 schools, increasing scholarships to over 600 young people, connecting an additional 2,000 schools to free internet services, and extending digital skills and financial inclusion programmes to underserved communities.
“As a Foundation, we are positioned to deliver skills development and lasting change at the individual and household level while partnering with governments to unlock Africa’s economic transformation,” Ogunsanya added.