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Airtel Foundation Sets Goal to Support 10 Million Africans With Scholarships, Digital Programs
Airtel Africa Foundation has launched an ambitious plan to reach more than 10 million Africans by 2030 with scholarships, digital education, and social investment programs.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The announcement came Tuesday during a press conference in Lagos, where the foundation was formally introduced in partnership with UNICEF. The initiative focuses on education, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, and financial literacy.
Dinesh Balsingh, chief executive officer of Airtel Nigeria, said the foundation would build on Airtel’s history of corporate social responsibility while expanding its impact across the continent.
“We gather today to officially present the Airtel Africa Foundation to the world,” Balsingh said. “This foundation multiplies our reach with a sharper focus, a stronger platform, and a groundbreaking vision.”
Balsingh explained that the foundation is equipping schools with internet access, devices, and teacher training to prepare students for the digital economy. He said the projects already underway are visible in classrooms, hospitals, rural communities, and cities where connectivity drives opportunities.
Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer of Airtel Africa, described the initiative as both a business priority and a guiding philosophy.
“We have visited over 1,200 schools, impacted more than one million students, and trained 17,000 teachers in digital education across our 14 markets,” Taldar said. “A very large portion of the foundation’s investment will go into Nigeria.”
The Airtel Africa Foundation began operations in July 2024 and is active in 14 countries, including Nigeria. Its programs aim to bridge the digital divide, strengthen education, and help young people gain 21st-century skills.
Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, described the effort as a “catalyst for change” that would leave a long-term legacy.
“What makes you rich is not what you have, but what you give,” Ogunsanya said.
He highlighted plans to expand access to higher learning through free educational platforms, school renovations, and donations of learning devices. So far, the foundation has rebuilt six schools across Nigeria — one in each region — and equipped classrooms with smart televisions and digital learning materials. The goal is to reach at least 10 schools for a balanced national impact.
One of the flagship programs is the Airtel Africa Fellowship, which offers full scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The fellowship also includes mentorship, internships, and international exchange opportunities designed to nurture Africa’s next generation of innovators.
Officials said the foundation’s focus on youth development is key to building a more resilient economy in Africa. With a growing population of young people, investment in education and skills training is seen as critical to lifting millions out of poverty.
The partnership with UNICEF, a longtime advocate for children’s rights and education, is expected to help Airtel expand its programs into underserved communities where access to technology and quality schooling is limited.
Beyond education, the foundation also plans to support projects that promote environmental sustainability and financial literacy. These initiatives aim to strengthen local economies and prepare communities for long-term growth.
Industry experts say the scale of Airtel’s commitment highlights the role private companies can play in social development. In many African countries, where public funding for education is limited, corporate-led initiatives provide vital support.
While challenges such as infrastructure, electricity, and access to rural areas remain, Airtel officials expressed confidence that the foundation’s broad partnerships would help overcome obstacles.
Ogunsanya said the foundation’s success would be measured not only in numbers but in the opportunities it creates.
“Our goal is not just to change statistics but to change lives,” he said.
The Airtel Africa Foundation expects to reach its 10 million target by 2030 through continued investment in schools, scholarships, and digital inclusion. For many African students, officials said, the programs could mean the difference between limited options and a future full of possibilities.
entertainment
‘I Thought We Would Get Married’ – Ruggedman Opens Up On Painful Failed Relationship.
Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has opened up about why he remains unmarried at the age of 52, attributing his marital status to the demands of his music career and the collapse of a five-year relationship.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In an interview with The Cable, the rapper explained that he began his career during a period when Nigerian musicians had to work tirelessly to establish themselves and achieve success in the entertainment industry.
According to Ruggedman, the pressure and commitment required to build his career consumed much of his time, making it difficult for him to settle down.
He noted that some of his colleagues were fortunate to find partners who understood the demands of their profession and were willing to support them throughout their journeys.
The rapper cited fellow musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, as an example of someone who found partners willing to share the challenges and experiences associated with his career. He, however, said he had not enjoyed the same luck in his relationships.
Ruggedman also disclosed that he was once involved in a five-year relationship that he believed would eventually lead to marriage. However, the relationship ended after an incident he did not reveal during the interview.
He said, “I am one of those who got into the industry back in the day where all we had was our hustle and we faced it and before you know it, time was gone. 2baba was lucky to have found partners who were ready to walk that road with him, I wasn’t that lucky. I had a five year relationship that I thought would lead to marriage but something happened and it crashed.
“Currently, I’m not in any relationship. The only thing I vowed is that I will never have a child out of wedlock. No, I don’t think it’s too late. It’s never too late. As long as you are alive, it’s never too late to get married. I am very straight.”
The rapper maintained that he does not consider himself too old to get married, insisting that marriage remains possible at any stage of life.
He also reiterated his decision not to have a child outside marriage, adding that he is currently not involved in any romantic relationship.
entertainment
‘A Huge Calamity Will Befall Me’ – Baba Ijesha Reveals Shocking Prophecy.
Nollywood actor Baba Ijesha has recounted a prophecy he received before his imprisonment, revealing that he was told he would become a great man after experiencing a devastating ordeal that would leave him in tears.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The actor shared the experience during a courtesy visit to Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho at his residence, according to reports.
Baba Ijesha explained that someone had received a revelation about his future, predicting that he would eventually achieve greatness but would first pass through a period of intense pain and hardship.
He said the prophecy came before he was sent to prison, adding that he now associates his imprisonment with the difficult experience foretold in the revelation.
“Before I went to prison, someone saw a revelation about me that I’ll be a great man but a huge calamity will befall me that’ll make me shed lots of tears before the prophesy will eventually come to pass. It was after then I went to prison,” the actor said.
His revelation comes after his release from prison in November 2025, following his conviction in a case involving the sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child.
Baba Ijesha was convicted by the Lagos State High Court on July 14, 2022, over offences involving the foster daughter of comedian Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess.
The court sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment for sexual assault and three years for indecent treatment of a child. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
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‘I Don’t Want Money Or Contract’ – Former Texas Mayor Gives Tinubu Conditions To Stop Criticising His Govt.
Former Texas mayor Mike Arnold has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, outlining conditions he says must be met before he will stop criticising the Nigerian government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Arnold disclosed the conditions in a letter published on his verified X account, according to reports.
The American lawyer said he would end his criticism of Tinubu if the President acknowledged the plight of displaced Nigerians living in at least eight camps within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and took urgent steps to ease their suffering.
He urged the President to provide immediate assistance to the affected families, seek support from international humanitarian organisations and ensure that displaced persons have access to adequate food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and education for their children.
Arnold also called on the Tinubu administration to take decisive action to remove Boko Haram and other armed terrorist groups from the ancestral lands of the displaced families, allowing them to return to their homes and live in peace.
In his letter, Arnold wrote: “Acknowledge the tens of thousands of innocent displaced Nigerians, as many as 40,000 or more, living in at least eight horrific camps inside the Federal Capital Territory. Acknowledge that they exist. Acknowledge that they are suffering. Then act.
“I believe I am shaking your table far more than Reno Omokri ever dared. And I’m only getting started. I was the number one target of attack for your $9 million US lobby contract, and it only made me more popular, influential and determined.
“Do you want me to be quiet? I do not want a shambassadorial appointment. I do not want a government position, contract, favour or money.
“Do all I asked, and I will not say another word about you or the presidential election. I will step away knowing that the widows, orphans and displaced families I have fought for are finally being seen, protected and helped.
“No appointment. No payment. No personal benefit. Just mercy. Justice. Action. The choice is yours, Mr President,” Arnold stated.
The former mayor maintained that his demands were focused on humanitarian assistance and security for displaced Nigerians rather than any personal gain from the government.
He challenged Tinubu to take concrete steps to address the conditions in the camps, insisting that meeting the needs of vulnerable families would be enough to bring his criticism of the President and the 2027 presidential election to an end.
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