Mobile telecommunications service provider Airtel Malawi has awarded scholarships to 25 students at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), in a move aimed at easing rthe financial burden associated with pursuing higher education.
Under Airtel Nzeru Fund Tech Scholarship Programme, scholarships cover a range of educational and welfare needs, including tuition fees, monthly upkeep allowances, data bundles, laptops and Airtel-branded regalia, among other necessities.
The beneficiaries will receive the support throughout their academic stay at MUST, with Airtel Malawi also committing to meeting their connectivity needs.
Speaking during the meer and greet ceremony, Airtel Malawi Managing Director Aashish Dutt said the initiative is aimed at addressing some of the gaps that students face in meeting their academic and personal needs.
“We aim to close gaps that exist among the students’ needs. This is part of our corporate social responsibility as Airtel,” Dutt said.
He added that connectivity is an important component of modern education and said Airtel would provide the beneficiaries with data bundles for the duration of their studies.
“We are also covering their connectivity needs. We are providing all these for their entire academic stay here at MUST,” he said.
Dutt said the initiative demonstrates Airtel Malawi’s commitment to supporting education and empowering young people by helping remove some of the financial and technological barriers that could affect their academic progress.
Meanwhile, MUST Assistant Registrar for Academics, Dr Duncan Batizani, has welcomed the initiative, saying it comes at a time when many students are struggling to meet the costs associated with higher education.
“This is a welcome gesture by Airtel Malawi. We have many needy students now due to high demand for education. These students are in need of various necessities, so the coming in of Airtel is very handy,” Batizani said.
He said partnerships between the university and the private sector can play an important role in ensuring that students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds are given an opportunity to pursue their education without being unnecessarily constrained by financial challenges.
One of the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Thamanda, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems and Science, is among the students set to benefit from the scholarship programme.
He said: “The scholarship is timely and I am grateful to Airtel for this.”
The scholarship programme forms part of Airtel Malawi’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, with the company continuing to support education and initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for young people.
