Airtel Nigeria and UNICEF partner to boost youth digital empowerment
Date: 2025-06-11
Airtel Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to youth development through digital inclusion during a strategic meeting with UNICEF at its Banana Island headquarters. The courtesy visit, led by UNICEF Chief of Field Office Celine Lafoucriere, marked her first official engagement with Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, since his appointment in November 2024.
The discussions
highlighted the remarkable progress of their collaborative Generation Unlimited
Naija (GenU 9ja) initiative, which has expanded free digital learning access
for millions of young Nigerians. Through Airtel’s zero-data access to platforms
like the Nigerian Learning Passport and Yoma, user engagement on Yoma alone
surged from 5 million to over 20 million visits since January 2025, with 95% of
learners benefiting from waived data charges.
Ms. Lafoucriere praised Airtel’s pivotal role in bridging the digital divide, stating, “This partnership exemplifies how private sector support can transform education and skills development.” The initiative aligns with the ambitious goal of transitioning 20 million Nigerian youth from learning to earning by 2030, equipping them with vocational and entrepreneurial tools via Yoma’s integrated platform.
CEO Dinesh
Balsingh reaffirmed Airtel’s dedication to sustainable social impact,
emphasizing the company’s resolve to “leverage connectivity as a catalyst
for empowerment.” The meeting explored scaling up initiatives to reach
underserved communities, particularly in rural areas where digital access
remains limited.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
