By Myra Elias:
Airtel Malawi has unveiled the Airtel Nzeru Fund, a scholarship programme targeting 25 undergraduates from low-income households to pursue technology-related degrees at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must).
Speaking in Lilongwe, Airtel Malawi Managing Director Aashish Dutt said the initiative seeks to curb the high dropout rate among university students due to financial challenges.
He said the programme is part of Airtel’s broader efforts to strengthen Malawi’s digital capacity and education sector, noting that it directly addresses barriers preventing young Africans from accessing the digital economy.
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“We have over 27,000 students applying, but nearly 90 percent drop out because of financial issues. This fund is about supporting capable students who lack resources to remain in university,” Dutt said.
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Must Vice Chancellor Professor Address Malata welcomed the initiative stressing that investment in education is critical for national development.
“The majority of students selected to join the university face financial struggles. This programme will go a long way in addressing that,” Malata said.
She added that the scholarships will cover tuition, accommodation, food and learning materials for first-year students enrolled in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Technology, Software Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity at Must’s Thyolo and Blantyre campuses.
Malata further said that beneficiaries will also enjoy reliable internet connectivity, enhancing their ability to excel in technological studies.
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The Nzeru Fund forms part of the Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Scholarship initiative.
