Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, has committed to equipping 25,000 young Nigerians with digital and technology skills, The New Telegraph reported.
Spanning 80 local government areas across the country, the initiative aims to empower youth and bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap. It will be implemented as part of the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, a presidential mandate focused on training and developing technical skills.
Airtel Africa has also introduced 10 scholarships for Nigerian students to pursue technology-focused courses at Plaksha University in India as part of the Airtel Africa Fellowship programme. Sponsored by the Airtel Africa Foundation, the purpose of the scholarships is to equip young Nigerians with digital and innovation skills, foster technological advancement and open up global opportunities.
The commitment to developing Nigeria’s future tech leaders was officially confirmed during a meeting between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Airtel Africa CEO Sunil Taldar.
‘We are expanding our network, driving financial inclusion, and creating opportunities for Nigerians through technology and innovation. 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’, said Mr Taldar.
Airtel Africa has successfully implemented the Airtel–UNICEF Reimagine Education Programme, enrolling 1,260 schools and over 600,000 students across Nigeria onto digital learning platforms, including the Nigerian Learning Passport.
The company also welcomed the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure and reaffirmed its commitment to financial inclusion, particularly through its subsidiary SmartCash PSB.
Airtel Africa, a London-based telecommunications and mobile money provider founded in 2010, is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel. Operating in 14 African countries, Airtel Africa is driving financial inclusion and connectivity by offering mobile services and digital payments through Airtel Money. The company continues to invest in network expansion and fintech innovations to meet growing market demand.
The 3MTT programme, launched by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aims to develop a skilled tech workforce. Focused on AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, the programme has trained 30,000 fellows in partnership with over 1,400 organisations since December 2023.