Telecom giant to train 25,000 Nigerian youth in digital skills and award scholarships for tech education.
Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has pledged to support Nigeria’s digital transformation by training 25,000 youth in digital and technology skills. The initiative is part of the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, a Presidential mandate aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the expertise needed to thrive in the digital economy.
Additionally, Airtel Africa Foundation has announced 10 scholarships under the Airtel Africa Fellowship, enabling Nigerian students to pursue technology-focused courses at Plaksha University in India. The initiative is designed to bridge the talent gap in Nigeria’s tech sector and strengthen the country’s ambitions to become a global technology hub.
The announcement came as Airtel Africa Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, and CEO, Sunil Taldar, met with Nigeria’s President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja. Discussions centered on Airtel Africa’s ongoing investments in Nigeria’s telecom sector and its commitment to expanding the digital economy.
“Nigeria remains a strategic market for Airtel Africa, and we are fully committed to supporting the government’s digital transformation agenda.”
— Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Airtel Africa
“Through initiatives like the Airtel Africa Fellowship and our investment in 3MTT, we are ensuring that the youth of Nigeria have access to world-class education and digital skills,” said Mittal. “We commend President Tinubu’s vision for a technologically advanced Nigeria and are committed to playing our part in making that vision a reality.”
Airtel Africa also reaffirmed its commitment to network expansion, service quality, and financial inclusion, highlighting the Airtel-UNICEF Reimagine Education Programme, which has already onboarded 1,260 schools and over 600,000 students onto digital learning platforms like the Nigerian Learning Passport (NLP).
Additionally, Airtel Africa welcomed the designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), calling it a crucial step in safeguarding and expanding Nigeria’s digital backbone.
“Airtel is deeply invested in Nigeria’s digital future,” said Sunil Taldar, CEO, Airtel Africa. “Our collaboration with the government through initiatives like the Airtel Africa Fellowship and 3MTT ensures that Nigeria remains at the forefront of Africa’s digital revolution.”
With these initiatives, Airtel Africa continues to strengthen its role as a key partner in Nigeria’s connectivity, digital skills development, and financial inclusion, reinforcing the country’s position as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.
