Airtel Africa has pledged to support digital and technology skills training for 25,000 Nigerian youths across 80 local government areas under the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, a Presidential initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with essential digital skills.
The telecom giant also announced 10 scholarships for Nigerian students to study technology-focused courses at Plaksha University in India through the Airtel Africa Fellowship, reinforcing its commitment to closing the talent gap in the technology sector.
The pledges were announced during a meeting between Airtel Africa’s Chairman, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, KBE, and CEO, Sunil Taldar, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. The discussions centered on Airtel Africa’s ongoing investments in Nigeria’s telecom and digital economy, with Mr. Mittal reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting the government’s digital transformation agenda through education and skill-building initiatives.
Mr. Mittal highlighted the progress made through the Airtel-UNICEF Reimagine Education Programme, which has onboarded 1,260 schools and over 600,000 students onto digital learning platforms such as the Nigerian Learning Passport (NLP). He also welcomed the government’s recent designation of telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), recognizing its role in safeguarding and expanding Nigeria’s digital landscape.
Airtel Africa further reiterated its commitment to driving financial inclusion, particularly through its subsidiary, SmartCash PSB. Mr. Taldar emphasized the company’s goal of accelerating Nigeria’s digital economy by expanding network infrastructure, fostering innovation, and collaborating with the government on initiatives like the Airtel Africa Fellowship and 3MTT, ensuring that Nigeria remains a key player in Africa’s digital revolution.