Airtel Africa Foundation to Touch 10 million Lives in Africa by 2030

By Dipo Olowookere

Plans have been put in place by the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa Plc, Airtel Africa Foundation, to improve the lives of at least 10 million people on the continent in the next five years.

Addressing the media in Lagos on Tuesday, the chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said funding for this would mainly be put down by the telecommunications giant, which has operations in 14 African countries, as well as other partners.

He noted that the organisation stands on four core pillars of Financial Empowerment, Education, Environmental Protection and Digital Inclusion (FEED), with education the main focus for now.

It was disclosed that the foundation’s mission would be executed by creating a cycle of empowerment through targeted programmes.

These include Connecting Schools, which provides free connectivity and devices, and the Airtel Africa Fellowship, offering full undergraduate scholarships in tech and STEM fields, complemented by mentorship and internships.

A key early success underscoring the group’s impact is its ongoing partnership with UNICEF, which has already helped to connect more than 1,800 schools, benefitted over one million students, and trained more than 17,000 teachers in digital education across its 14 markets of operation.

In addition, Airtel Africa Foundation will leverage its dedicated Employee Volunteer Programme, channelling the skills and passion of its people directly into community initiatives.

For the 2025/26 financial year, the foundation has set specific expansion targets, with programmes now active across all its operating countries, from Nigeria to Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“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,” Mr Ogunsanya stated.

Commenting on the company’s support for the organisation, the chief executive of Airtel Africa, Mr Sunil Taldar, said, “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 have remained dedicated to transforming lives both as a business imperative as well as our overarching philosophy. For us, helping to connect the unconnected, banking the unbanked and enabling businesses and economies to thrive are the three most significant objectives of our business.”