The first-ever foreign campus to be established by an IIT, IIT Madras Zanzibar, is pleased to announce the opening of the prestigious “Airtel Africa Fellowship Program” for undergraduate students.
The Fellowship is intended to assist worthy students enrolled in the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in Zanzibar’s Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence program from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Ten undergraduate students will benefit from this program, which will start with a US$500,000 investment and last for four years.
The Airtel Africa Foundation was established in 2024 with the goal of promoting financial and digital inclusion throughout the continent, with a particular emphasis on education and environmental preservation.
Students from 14 African nations—Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar, and Seychelles—are intended to receive support from it.
The people who receive this scholarship will be referred to as “Airtel Africa Fellows.” According to the Institute’s course fee structure, they will receive US$12,000, or 100% of their college expenses, for a four-year program. All qualified students will also receive US$500 to help with living expenses. With this initiative, we hope to change people’s lives, develop the next generation of leaders, and support Africa’s economic development and technological advancement.
Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, H.E. Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa said, “IITM Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region. Providing access to this high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who are topping the IITM Zanzibar screening and test processes, through financial assistance, is an important priority for us. We are thankful to this support from Airtel Africa Foundation, which will enhance our own efforts in this direction.”
The Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Olusegun Ogunsanya said, “We are pleased to partner with IIT Madras Zanzibar to provide opportunities for young Africans to access quality education. This initiative aims to contribute towards creating a prosperous and sustainable continent. We look forward to creating even more opportunities not just in education, but also in financial and digital inclusion, and environmental protection”.
The Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “IIT Madras is committed to establishing a world class campus in Zanzibar. We are delighted that Airtel Africa Foundation is joining hands with us in this effort. We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of bright young students to the IITM Zanzibar campus this year. We are immensely grateful to Airtel Africa Foundation for providing financial assistance for these future global leaders.”
