The Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has completed the disbursement of first year funding to the first cohort of 100 beneficiaries under its flagship Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship Programme.

The initiative, which was launched to support high-performing but financially disadvantaged 100-level students studying technology-related courses in public universities, covers tuition, accommodation, stipends, and other essential materials such as laptop computers.

Each of the beneficiaries received an average of ₦500,000, making a total of ₦50 million disbursed as of May 29, 2026.  Funding will continue, the Foundation has said, through the duration of the students’ four-to-five-year academic programmes.

The 100 recipients, referred to as Airtel fellows, were selected through an independent process from accredited public universities across Nigeria and are enrolled in courses including Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, among others.

Participating institutions in the first batch of the scholarship scheme are the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED).

Commenting on the milestone, Chairman of Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, said, “We are not just funding education; we are building a pipeline of skilled innovators who will contribute meaningfully to Africa’s digital economy. The transparency of this process and the full delivery of our commitment to these 100 scholars are matters of great pride for the Foundation.”

Also speaking on the progress, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, noted that the initiative reflects Airtel’s long-standing commitment to empowering the youth through education and digital inclusion.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we believe that the future of our country lies in the hands of our youth. This ₦50 million disbursement is proof that when we say we are committed to empowering young Nigerians, we mean it fully and transparently. I congratulate every scholar and encourage you to make the most of this opportunity. Your success is our success,” he said.

The Airtel Fellowship Tech Fellowship forms part of the Foundation’s efforts to equip African youth with advanced digital and technical skills, within its broader F.E.E.D agenda which focuses on Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental protection and Digital Inclusion.

Beyond financial support, the initiative is designed to equip beneficiaries with the skills, mentorship, and exposure required to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

As the world enters a pivotal era of digital policy negotiations, the 17th Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has set a clear mandate: Nigeria must evolve from a spectator to a leader in global digital governance.

R-L Delegation of the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) led by Assistant Director, Mrs. Doyin Aiyenitaju and Mrs Olubunmi with the chairman Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (NDSF-IG4D) 2026, and Director, Strategic Business at ipNX, Dr. Olusola Teniola (hon) and Lead Convener of NDSF 2026 and Lead Convener, NDSF and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke during the event held at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

In his welcome address at the forum, which convened on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos, the Lead Convener of the NDSF and Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media Group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, issued a rallying cry to industry stakeholders. “As the world negotiates the next phase of global digital compacts, Nigeria must not merely be a spectator; we must be an active architect,” Nweke declared.

Echoing this sentiment, the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Olusola Teniola, challenged participants to ensure that the multi-stakeholder dialogue translates into tangible progress. Emphasizing that “the ultimate measure of digital transformation is the positive impact it has on citizens and communities,” Dr. Teniola urged stakeholders to move beyond talk and commit to concrete, measurable, and actionable outcomes.

He further noted that “the complexity of today’s digital ecosystem requires stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, development partners, and users themselves” to realize the WSIS vision of an inclusive, people-centered information society.

To achieve this, Nweke emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s digital foundations, noting that true digital sovereignty requires robust infrastructure, including data center interconnectivity and carrier-neutral protections.

He further advocated for the expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to boost the .ng domain brand and support the SMEs that drive the national economy.

The forum also prioritized the empowerment of the next generation through several key initiatives:

The newly optimized Women, Youth & Students Track, which equipped attendees with cybersecurity skills through a “Phishing @ A Glance” presentation sponsored by the DNS WomenNG Foundation.

The formal adoption of the “2026 Nigerian Youth Declaration on Digital Rights” by secondary school participants, ensuring young voices are central to the policy conversation.

The launch of the 2026 National DigitalSENSE Youth Essay Competition, designed to institutionalize youth advocacy and digital rights awareness nationwide.

Nweke concluded by thanking the forum’s institutional partners, including the NCC, NITDA, ALTON, ISOC Nigeria, Digital Realty, DNS WomenNG Foundation, IHS Nigeria, and NLNG; for their commitment to the multi-stakeholder synergy necessary to bridge the digital divide.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from online harm.

The proposed restrictions will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.

Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected by the measures.

In a recorded video message released on Monday, Starmer said the government was taking decisive action in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing.

“It’s a big step for our country. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore,” he said.

The announcement follows a national consultation conducted between March and May, which received more than 116,000 responses on children’s use of technology.

According to the findings, more than 83 per cent of parents believed the risks associated with social media outweighed its benefits, while 90 per cent supported setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms.

The British government said legislation would be introduced before Christmas, with the protections expected to come into force next spring.

Under the proposed framework, children under 16 will also be prevented from using livestreaming features and from communicating with strangers on affected platforms.

Starmer acknowledged that implementing age restrictions would be challenging but said the government had carefully reviewed available evidence and lessons from other countries before deciding to proceed.

“It’s not an easy thing to do. We haven’t rushed into it. We’ve looked carefully at the evidence and will continue adapting our approach as technology changes,” he said.

The Prime Minister also signalled a willingness to confront major technology firms that may oppose the policy.

“We will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer,” he added.

The move comes amid increasing global efforts to regulate children’s access to social media.

Last year, Australia became the first country to enact legislation restricting access to major social media platforms for children under 16.

However, Australian authorities have reported enforcement challenges, with a recent study indicating that many children continued to maintain accounts despite the restrictions.

Alongside the proposed ban, the British government announced a £132.5 million “Every Child Can” programme aimed at expanding access to sports, arts and nature-based activities in schools and local communities as alternatives to excessive screen time.

The initiative follows recent calls by the government for technology companies, including Apple and Google, to strengthen safeguards preventing children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online.

The government said the measures were designed to combat online exploitation, reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and improve online safety.

Meanwhile, social media companies in the United States continue to face legal challenges alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health problems among young users and failed to adequately protect children from online predators.

Supporters of stricter age-verification requirements argue that they are necessary to shield children from harmful online content, while critics have raised concerns over privacy, data protection and freedom of expression.