Airtel Africa Foundation to extend financial aid to students at IITM Zanzibar

Airtel Africa Foundation on Tuesday launched the ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship Program’ for undergraduate students at IIT Madras Zanzibar.

Notably, IIT Madras Zanzibar is the first-ever foreign campus established by an IIT, as informed in a press 

Through the fellowship program, support will be extended to deserving students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IIT Madras Zanzibar.

It is a maiden initiative undertaken to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled at IIT Madras Zanzibar, the release added.

The program is aimed at supporting students from 14 African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar, and Seychelles.

As part of the initiative, 10 undergraduate students will be provided economic support for their entire course duration of 4 years, starting with an outlay of US$ 500,000.

Students will be given 100 percent of their college fees (US$12,000) as per the course fee structure of the Institute for a 4-year program.

Additionally, US$500 will be given to all eligible students to cover the living expenses cost.

Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Lela Mohamed Mussa highlighted that IIT Madras Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region as well as expressed his gratitude to Airtel Africa Foundation for providing access to high-quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent.