Airtel and UNICEF Partnership Drives Digital Learning for Nigerian Children

Airtel Nigeria and UNICEF hosted Esther, a physically-challenged child star featured in their TVC programme, as part of activities to commemorate World Children’s Day. This is in line with the commitment of the telco giant to nurture future leaders in Nigeria.

Airtel Nigeria is immensely committed to creating platforms and opportunities to improve learning and education for Nigerian children. It will continue to work closely with UNICEF to realize this goal.

Esther had the unusual privilege of succeeding the airtel CEO and MD, Surendran Chemmenkotil, for the day. Interestingly, she used her time as CEO to spearhead an advocacy campaign for Nigerian children, particularly the physically challenged, by signing a policy for Airtel Nigeria to pursue opportunities that will accelerate digital learning for all children in the country, regardless of ethnicity, location, or ability.

CEO, Chemmenkotil responded by assuring her of Airtel’s commitment to implementing the policy.He also provided Esther with a N1.5 million education scholarship, allowing her to continue her advocacy for Nigerian children as a key influencer.

Airtel Nigeria reiterated in a Linkedin post its immense commitment to developing platforms and opportunities to improve learning and education for Nigerian children, and it will continue to collaborate closely with UNICEF to achieve this goal.

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More on Airtel and UNICEF’s five-year partnership

On the 1st of November Airtel and Unicef announced a five-year pan-African partnership to help accelerate the roll-out of digital learning across 13 countries by connecting schools to the internet and ensuring free access to learning platforms. 

The partnership will help to ensure that every child reaches their full potential by providing equal access to high-quality digital learning, particularly for the most vulnerable children.

Airtel Africa, Africa’s leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, is the first African private sector partner to commit to ‘Reimagine Education,’ a global initiative launched by UNICEF in 2020 that calls for public and private sector investment in digital learning as an essential service for every child and young person around the world.

“Hundreds of millions of children in Africa have seen their education disrupted or put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By championing digital education for children in Africa, this partnership with Airtel Africa will help put children’s learning back on track,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.