Airtel Africa Foundation Announces 4-Year Fellowship for IIT Madras Zanzibar Students With $500,000 Investment

Airtel Africa Foundation has launched the Airtel Africa Fellowship Program at IIT Madras Zanzibar with an initial investment of $ 500,000 on September 10. The fellowship will be offered to 10 undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. 

The foundation, through its fellowship, aims “to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.” Additionally, it focuses on advancing digital and financial inclusion, giving priority to education and environmental protection. 

The fellowship will offer financial assistance to students from 14 African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, the DRC, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar, and Seychelles. 

“IITM Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region. Providing access to high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent who are topping the IITM Zanzibar screening and test processes through financial assistance is an important priority for us,” said Zanzibar’s minister of education and vocational training, H.E. Lela Mohamed Mussa, in a statement released by the foundation. 

The recipients will be called ‘Airtel Africa Fellows’. They will get 100 per cent of the college fees, i.e., $ 12,000 according to course fee structure. Moreover, $ 500 will be given to cover the living expenses. 

“This initiative aims to contribute towards creating a prosperous and sustainable continent,” said the chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, in a statement by the Airtel Africa Foundation. Ogunsanya further added that this initiative will help improve the quality of education in Africa.  

The Airtel Africa Foundation is a philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa and has a presence in countries in Africa. Its major work is around digital literacy and infrastructure in underserved areas, economic empowerment of women, and promoting sustainable practices. 

India’s Focus on the African Union 

IIT Madras step to establish an offshore campus and to facilitate education in Africa is aligned with broader roadmap of India to strengthen its bond with African Union countries. Previously, in 2023 a lot of head of African states visited in India to deepen diplomatic and bilateral relations. Recently, with India’s G20 Presidency, India’s focus on the African Union has increased.