Airtel Africa Foundation Launches Fellowship for IIT Madras Zanzibar Students

The Airtel Africa Foundation has introduced the 'Airtel Africa Fellowship Programme' to support undergraduate students at IIT Madras Zanzibar. The fellowship, backed by USD 500,000, will aid students enrolled in Data Science and AI programs from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, predominantly from 14 African countries.

The Airtel Africa Foundation on Tuesday announced the 'Airtel Africa Fellowship Programme' for undergraduate students at IIT Madras Zanzibar, marking the first foreign campus established by an IIT.

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 IIT Madras Zanzibar.

With an initial outlay of USD 500,000, this programme will benefit 10 undergraduate students for their entire four-year course duration.

Founded in 2024, the Airtel Africa Foundation seeks to advance digital and financial inclusion across Africa, with a focus on education and environmental protection.

"This fellowship is an inaugural initiative to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled at IITM Zanzibar, aimed at supporting students from 14 African countries," the release stated.

Zanzibar's Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Lela Mohamed Mussa, praised IITM Zanzibar's role in technical education.

"Providing access to high-quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who excel in the IITM Zanzibar selection process, through financial assistance, is a priority," said Mussa.

Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Olusegun Ogunsanya, noted that the initiative aims to foster a prosperous and sustainable continent.

"We look forward to creating more opportunities not just in education, but also in financial and digital inclusion, and environmental protection," Ogunsanya added.

(With inputs from agencies.)