The Airtel Africa Foundation has selected the first cohort of 25 young Malawians for the Airtel Nzeru Fund Tech Scholarship, supporting students pursuing science and technology-related studies at the Malawi University of Science and Technology.
The scholarship recipients come from 17 districts across Malawi and will study fields including Sustainable Energy Engineering, Computer Systems, Cyber Security and Metallurgy.
The programme is designed to support young people pursuing disciplines that can contribute to Malawi’s future development in areas such as energy, connectivity, technology and engineering.
The initiative builds on Airtel Nzeru Connect, which supports the provision of free internet connectivity to primary and secondary schools across Malawi.
According to the Airtel Africa Foundation, digital inclusion extends beyond access to the internet and includes creating opportunities for education, skills development and innovation.
Through the scholarship programme, the foundation is seeking to invest in young Malawians with the potential to develop solutions to local challenges and contribute to the country’s growing technology and innovation ecosystem.
The first cohort represents another step in Airtel Africa Foundation’s broader efforts to strengthen digital inclusion and develop a pipeline of future innovators, engineers and technology professionals.
The programme is expected to support Malawi’s efforts to build a more digitally skilled workforce while creating opportunities for young people to participate in the country’s future technology and innovation economy.
