By Ayomide Otitoju
Two Nigerian students have secured fully funded places to study technology and Artificial Intelligence at Plaksha University in India under the Airtel Africa Fellowship, a flagship initiative of the Airtel Africa Foundation.
Launched in September 2024, the fellowship provides academically gifted but financially disadvantaged African youth with access to world-class STEM education. Plaksha University, located in Mohali, is renowned for its innovative approach to engineering education for the 21st century.
Airtel Africa Foundation Chairman, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, said the fellowship represents more than access to global learning. “This Fellowship is about equipping Africa’s future tech leaders with advanced skills while nurturing their drive to transform their communities and the world. We are immensely proud of Terence and Ali and are confident they will make Nigeria proud,” he stated.
The competitive selection process, managed entirely by Plaksha University, considered academic excellence, leadership potential, and personal drive. From a diverse pool of applicants across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Tanzania, 21 were shortlisted, 13 advanced to interviews, and two Nigerians were ultimately offered admission.
Through this collaboration, Airtel Africa Foundation is advancing its long-term vision of equipping Africa’s youth with digital skills, fostering innovation, and breaking cycles of poverty.
Commenting on the development, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, described the scholarships as crucial to Nigeria’s digital transformation. “Through high-calibre technology education like that offered under the Airtel Africa Fellowship, we aim to contribute significantly to building Nigeria’s digital economy by training a new generation of technical talents,” he said.
Airtel Africa Foundation is also preparing to announce 100 additional local scholarships for Nigerian undergraduates, reinforcing its mission to empower African youth through its four pillars: financial inclusion, education, environmental protection, and digital inclusion (F.E.E.D
