The Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the telecoms company Airtel, says it has expanded digital access across Africa, connecting nearly 3 300 schools to the internet and providing over two millions learners with access to online educational resources as part of efforts to bridge the continent's digital divide.
In its inaugural annual report, released on Thursday, the Foundation said it committed $6.2 million to programmes focused on financial and digital inclusion, education, and environmental sustainability, with education receiving the largest share of investment.
The report shows that the Foundation connected 1 028 schools to the internet through a partnership with UNICEF during the 2025/26 financial year, bringing the total number of schools connected by the Foundation to 3 296 across 13 African countries.
The initiative has reached more than two million learners and nearly 39 000 teachers, it says.
The Foundation also supported 64 zero-rated digital learning platforms, enabling more than 11 million learners to access educational content free of data charges.
To strengthen digital skills development, the Foundation awarded 257 full university scholarships through the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship programme in Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The scholarships focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
Additionally, 30 530 young people and women received digital skills training through programmes implemented with government, multilateral and private-sector partners.
Airtel Africa Foundation Chair, Segun Ogunsanya, said: "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."
The Foundation is set to intensify its digital inclusion efforts over the next year by providing free internet connectivity to an additional 2 000 schools, expanding digital skills programmes and extending financial inclusion initiatives to underserved communities.
The report also notes that the Foundation is placing greater emphasis on measuring long-term impact and scaling programmes designed to improve access to education, digital technologies and economic opportunities for underserved populations across Africa.
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