The Airtel Africa Foundation announced yesterday that it has launched its ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship Program’ for undergraduate students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania. 

 IIT Madras Zanzibar is the Indian institution's first international campus. 

 According to Airtel, the fellowship will help deserving students from various socioeconomic backgrounds who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IIT Madras. 

Starting with a $500 000 investment, the programme will assist ten undergraduate students, over the course of four years.

The fellowship, a first at IIT Madras Zanzibar, is open to students from 14 African countries; namely Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, DR Congo, Niger, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Madagascar and Seychelles.

Recipients of the scholarship, known as ‘Airtel Africa Fellows’, will receive 100% of their college fees ($12 000) paid for the duration of the four-year programme.

Additionally, they will receive $500 per year of the course to cover the cost of living expenses.

The Airtel Africa Foundation said that its aim is for a prosperous Africa, as well as expanding digital and financial inclusion across the continent, with a particular emphasis on education and environmental conservation.

The foundation was founded earlier this year and is headed by Airtel Africa’s former CEO Segun Ogunsanya.

Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Zanzibar’s minister of education and vocational training, Lela Mohamed Mussa said: “Providing access to this high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who are topping the IIT Madras Zanzibar screening and test processes, through financial assistance, is an important priority for us. We are thankful to this support from Airtel Africa Foundation, which will enhance our own efforts in this direction.”