Airtel Africa Pledges $57 Million Investment in Educational Programs Across Africa
Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 African countries, has announced its commitment to providing access to digital education to African children. Dr Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa, reiterated the company’s commitment to the pursuit of a better future for African children through the provision of access to quality education at the opening of a two-day conference in Nairobi, Kenya, last week.
The conference, which was organized in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), convened executives of Airtel Africa and UNICEF to discuss the implementation of a landmark partnership across 13 out of Airtel’s 14 markets. The partnership aims to provide access to quality education for more than one million children by connecting schools to the internet and providing access to zero-rated educational platforms.
Ogunsanya acknowledged the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on education in Africa, which led to school closures, and called on stakeholders, particularly governments and educational authorities, to ensure that children, especially those in remote communities, have the opportunity to learn. He also highlighted the challenges faced in implementing the partnership in some of the 13 African countries and urged the governments of the affected countries to support the initiative.
Airtel Africa committed to invest $57 million into educational programs during the five-year partnership with UNICEF. The telecommunications company uses its unique insights to champion the quest for bridging the digital divide and promoting financial inclusion. The partnership is an important collaboration of private and public sectors aimed at putting children at the heart of their learning and changing the narrative in education after years of loss during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the first private sector company on the continent to partner with UNICEF to support programs focused on accelerating digital learning, Airtel Africa’s sustainability strategy has access to education as one of its key goals. The deputy regional director of UNICEF, Lieke van de Wiel, commended Airtel Africa for coming on board and encouraged participants to share experiences and exchange ideas and learnings on how best to implement the initiative.
In conclusion, Airtel Africa’s commitment to investing in educational programs across Africa is a commendable effort towards promoting quality education for children. The partnership with UNICEF is a significant milestone in bridging the digital divide and accelerating digital learning across Africa. With access to education as one of its key sustainability goals, Airtel Africa has set the pace for other private sector companies to support programs aimed at transforming lives and promoting financial inclusion.
