In its reporting period, the Foundation committed $6.2 million toward initiatives anchored on its FEED framework—Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Digital Inclusion—with education receiving the largest share of funding. The report highlights a strategy focused not only on access, but on long-term system change across underserved communities.
School Connectivity Expands to Over 3,000 Institutions Across Africa
One of the most significant achievements during the year was the expansion of school internet connectivity through a partnership with UNICEF. The Foundation connected 1,028 additional schools, bringing the total to 3,296 schools across 13 countries.
The impact of this expansion now extends to more than 2 million learners and nearly 39,000 teachers, enabling more consistent access to digital learning resources in classrooms that previously had limited or no internet access.
Further strengthening its education push, the Foundation supported 64 zero-rated digital platforms, allowing over 11 million learners to access educational content without data costs—removing one of the most persistent barriers to digital learning in many African communities.
School Infrastructure, Scholarships, and Skills Development Expand Opportunity Pathways
Beyond connectivity, the Foundation also invested in physical learning environments through its School Adoption Programme, which blends infrastructure upgrades with digital tools and student development support. During the reporting period, seven public schools were fully renovated, while 43 others underwent upgrades.
Higher education access also received a boost through the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship. A total of 257 full university scholarships were awarded across Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, with a focus on STEM disciplines aimed at building a future pipeline of African technology leaders.
Complementing these efforts, 30,530 youth and women participated in digital skills training delivered in collaboration with national governments, multilateral agencies, and private-sector partners—strengthening employability and digital readiness.
Leadership Emphasizes Equal Access and Long-Term Transformation
Reflecting on the Foundation’s mission, Segun Ogunsanya, Chair of the Airtel Africa Foundation, highlighted the persistent inequality in access to opportunity across the continent.
“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. Through partnerships and our continental reach, we are committed to investing in communities furthest from opportunity.”
The report also signals a stronger shift toward measurable outcomes and sustainable systems change, with an emphasis on scaling proven models rather than isolated interventions.
Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to significantly expand its reach, including growing its School Adoption Programme to more than 80 schools, increasing scholarships to over 600 youth, connecting an additional 2,000 schools to free internet, and widening access to digital and financial inclusion programmes in underserved regions.
“As a Foundation, we are positioned to deliver skills development and lasting change at the individual and household level, while partnering with governments to unlock Africa's economic transformation”, Mr Ogunsanya added.
Outlook: Scaling Impact Across the FEED Framework
With its FEED strategy at the center of its operations, the Foundation is positioning itself as a long-term development partner focused on education equity, digital access, and economic empowerment across Africa.
The Airtel Africa Foundation 2025/26 Annual Report is available at www.airtelafricafoundation.org