Airtel Africa Foundation Partners with ITU, RISA and Cisco to Empower Rwandan Youth with Digital Skills

 

Airtel Africa Foundation Partners with ITU, RISA and Cisco to Empower Rwandan Youth with Digital Skills

 

Airtel Africa Foundation has entered into a strategic partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), and Cisco to enhance capacity building and digital skills development under the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) Initiative.

The collaboration seeks to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion by providing free internet connectivity and digital skills training to underserved communities across Rwanda. The effort also supports the advancement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Under the initiative, ITU will supply digital skills training content to DTCs and coordinate regional capacity development activities. The organization will also facilitate networking opportunities that promote digital literacy, inclusion, and access to global expertise and best practices.

Speaking at the announcement, Mr. Sujay Chakrabarti, Managing Director of Airtel Rwanda, said:

“Today’s partnership between Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, and Cisco marks a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and empowering Rwandan youth with essential digital skills. It’s a powerful example of what can be achieved when government, private sector, and international organizations come together to empower communities.”

Through Airtel Rwanda, the Airtel Africa Foundation will equip DTC locations with routers, Wi-Fi access, and data packages at no cost, ensuring the smooth rollout of digital training and e-learning programs.

This landmark partnership aligns with Rwanda’s vision to become a knowledge-based economy and complements national initiatives such as “Connect Rwanda,” which promotes smartphone access and digital service inclusion for underserved populations.

Ms. Esi Asare Prah, Head of Programs at Airtel Africa Foundation, speaking on behalf of Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, Chair of the Foundation, stated:

“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting national development goals and closing the digital divide through meaningful collaboration. We are honored to partner with ITU to bring this vision to life and contribute to Rwanda’s journey toward becoming a digitally empowered society.”

Echoing the same sentiment, Dr. Emmanuel Mannaseh, Regional Director for ITU, said:

“Our partnership with Airtel Africa Foundation begins in Rwanda, where we are joining forces to strengthen digital skills in underserved communities and advance connectivity. This initiative lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration, as we aim to expand this work to other Digital Transformation Centres across Africa.”

Mr. Antoine Sebera, CEO of RISA, added:

“What we are witnessing today is partnership in action. With over 900 million people in Africa still unconnected, extra effort is needed to ensure no one is left behind. These centres will play a transformative role in preparing young people to leverage AI and digital innovation. Digital transformation is reshaping the world — and Rwanda cannot be left behind.”