Airtel Equips OAU Scholars with Laptops, Challenges Them to Lead the Digital Future Prof Bamire tasks beneficiaries on responsible use as telecom giant deepens CSR partnership

‎In a strategic move to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria’s ivory towers, telecommunications giant Airtel Nigeria has distributed 16 high-performance laptops to beneficiaries of the Airtel Africa Foundation Scholarship at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The ceremony, held at the university’s Senate building, reinforces the institution’s status as one of only six universities in Nigeria selected for the prestigious intervention.
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‎The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, radiating a mix of pride and expectation, received the Airtel delegation and did not mince words about the responsibility that accompanies the gesture.
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‎”Your goal in guarding OAU students is highly appreciated. When we see private companies coming to support our initiative, we really appreciate them,” Professor Bamire stated. However, the veteran academic swiftly turned to the students with a stern, paternal warning rarely seen at such ceremonies. “Students, you should be very careful in ensuring that you keep it and make sure it doesn’t get lost. You must not misuse it. Make sure the lecturers don’t meet you using the computer for games or African Magic. It should be used positively. Your lecturers should see that you are the one leading the class.”
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‎The Vice-Chancellor, while celebrating the seamless blend of full tuition support, mentorship, and now digital tools, reminded the scholars that their luck places a heavy burden of performance on their shoulders. “You are lucky because this entails scholarship and mentorship. We want to see you in first class, so you have to work harder so that you don’t disappoint your lecturers, Airtel, and your mentors.”
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‎Setting the tone for the event, the Vice Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Lukman Olasunkanmi, highlighted the comprehensive architecture of the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. “They are organizing a scholarship program for our students. Crucially, it has a mentorship component,” Professor Lukman noted. “We appreciate Airtel for this kind of scholarship program initiated. It goes beyond just financial aid; it is about building complete scholars.”
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‎Speaking on behalf of Airtel Nigeria, the team lead, Oluwafemi Adejumo, framed the donation not merely as charity but as a strategic investment in research capacity. “We are here this morning because of our Corporate Social Responsibility to empower the students,” Adejumo explained. “OAU was part of the six universities selected in Nigeria for this pilot. These are not just devices; they are tools for research.” He further revealed the program’s aggressive sustainability plan, stating that Airtel intends to select another 100 beneficiaries from the incoming cohort to maintain the scholarship pipeline, targeting students with a CGPA bracket of 3.5 to 5.0.
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‎Adding a touch of homecoming nostalgia, the event revealed that one of the Airtel staff members facilitating the donation, Tolulope Popoola, is a 2017 alumnus of OAU’s Civil Engineering department.
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‎With the university set to host the West African University Games (WAUG) in October, drawing over 500 accredited institutions from 16 countries, Professor Bamire extended an open invitation for a deepened relationship. “Airtel, we want to see more of your presence here. We will appreciate your continued partnership,” he said, assuring that the entire alumni network and student community would bear witness to the company’s contributions.