Airtel Africa Foundation unveils program for Zanzibar students

Zanzibar. The Airtel Africa Foundation is expected today to announce the launch of its ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship Program’ for the undergraduate students at IIT Madras Zanzibar, the first-ever foreign campus established by an IIT.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday that the fellowship aims to support deserving students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in Zanzibar.

Starting with an outlay of $500,000, this program will benefit 10 undergraduate students, for their entire course duration of four years.

Founded in 2024 with a vision to foster a prosperous Africa, the Airtel Africa Foundation is dedicated to advancing digital and financial inclusion across the continent along with key focus on education and environmental protection.

This Fellowship is the maiden initiative undertaken to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled at IIT M Zanzibar.

Apart from Tanzania, the program will also support students in Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, DR Congo, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar and Seychelles.

Recipients of this scholarship will receive 100 percent of their college fees $12,000 as per the course fee structure of the Institute for a four-year program.

“Additionally, to cover the living expense cost, $500 will be given to all eligible students. This initiative will aspire to transform, shape lives and nurture future leaders who will contribute to technological innovation and economic growth of Africa,” the statement reads.

Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa said, “IITM Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region. Providing access to this high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who are topping the IITM 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.”