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. It is designed to support students from 14 African countries, which are namely Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar and Seychelles.
Recipients of this scholarship will be known as ‘Airtel Africa Fellows’. They will receive 100% of their college fees i.e. US$12,000 as per the course fee structure of the Institute for a 4-year program. Additionally, to cover the living expense cost, US$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.
Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, H.E. 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.”
The Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Olusegun Ogunsanya said, “We are pleased to partner with IIT Madras Zanzibar to provide opportunities for young Africans to access quality education. This initiative aims to contribute towards creating a prosperous and sustainable continent. We look forward to creating even more opportunities not just in education, but also in financial and digital inclusion, and environmental protection”.
The Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “IIT Madras is committed to establishing a world class campus in Zanzibar. We are delighted that Airtel Africa Foundation is joining hands with us in this effort. We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of bright young students to the IITM Zanzibar campus this year. We are immensely grateful to Airtel Africa Foundation for providing financial assistance for these future global leaders.”
Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa, a leading telecommunications and mobile money service provider, operates in 14 African countries, primarily in East, Central, and West Africa. The foundation's vision is to create a prosperous Africa for all. It focuses on enhancing digital literacy and skills, expanding digital infrastructure in underserved regions, empowering women economically, improving access to education, and advocating for sustainable practices to address environmental degradation.
Established in 1959 by the Government of India, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) is a prominent institution of higher learning and research. Recognized as an 'Institute of National Importance,' IITM's activities span across various scientific and technological disciplines, with 18 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary research centers. The institute offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in diverse specializations. With over 600 faculty members and 9,500 students, IITM fosters a vibrant academic environment that attracts students from 18 countries. Notably, the institute actively promotes an entrepreneurial culture, providing robust curricular support and fostering innovation through its dedicated IITM Incubation Cell
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), designated as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) in 2019, has consistently achieved the top position in the 'Overall' category for six consecutive years in the India Ranking 2024 published by the National Institutional Ranking Framework Ministry of Education, Government of India. Notably, IITM has also maintained its No. 1 ranking in the 'Engineering Institutions' category for nine consecutive years, from 2016 to 2024. Furthermore, IITM was recognized as the 'Top Innovative Institution' in the country in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The ARIIA Ranking was initiated by the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education.