Airtel Africa Foundation Targets 10 Million Lives by 2030
The Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, has announced an ambitious plan to directly improve the lives of 10 million Africans by 2030. The strategy will be rolled out under four core pillars: Financial Empowerment, Education, Environmental Protection, and Digital Inclusion (FEED).
Unveiling the initiative in Lagos, Nigeria, Dr Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, emphasised that the organisation’s mission goes beyond philanthropy. “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,” he said.
Programmes will include Connecting Schools, which provides free connectivity and devices, and the Airtel Africa Fellowship, offering full undergraduate scholarships in technology and STEM subjects, alongside mentorship and internship opportunities.
One of the Foundation’s most notable early successes is its ongoing partnership with UNICEF. To date, this collaboration has connected more than 1,800 schools, benefitted over one million students, and trained more than 17,000 teachers in digital learning across the Foundation’s 14 markets.
The Foundation also aims to harness the potential of its dedicated Employee Volunteer Programme, channelling staff skills and expertise into community-driven initiatives. For the 2025/26 financial year, expansion targets have been set to scale up programmes across all Airtel Africa’s markets, including Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Commenting on the company’s broader commitment, Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer 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.”
He added that connecting the unconnected, banking the unbanked, and enabling businesses and economies to flourish remain central objectives of Airtel Africa’s mission.
