The Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation (SMF), founded by Sanjeev Mansotra, Chairman of Planet One Group, has announced a partnership with Drive to Inspire – Africa (DTI-A), through which it is providing full tertiary education scholarships to over 20 exceptional young women in Africa to study on the continent and in UAE for the academic year commencing 2026. The scholarships will fund expenses throughout the entire course duration for each student.
These scholarships remove one of the most significant barriers to higher education — financial constraints — and represent SMF’s direct investment in the futures of brilliant students who, in the Foundation’s view, will become the professionals, leaders, and change-makers their communities need.
SMF is funding the complete cost of tertiary education for each of the scholars, covering tuition, accommodation and other academic costs in full. In addition to financial support, the scholars gain access to DTI-A’s mentorship programme, which includes monthly personal development sessions as well as internship and work experience opportunities.
Another component of the partnership opens a pathway to international education: each year, SMF will fund the studies of select scholars from the DTI-A programme who successfully gain admission to Planet One Group’s Ras Al Khaimah Campus (UAE) of the University of Stirling, Scotland, through its Ras Al Khaimah Campus (UAE), subject to the university’s standard entry requirements and admission process. This element of the partnership connects exceptional African students with a world-class educational institution.
The Foundation’s approach is grounded in the understanding that financial security transforms a student’s experience of university life. When the burden of unpaid fees and unmet basic needs is removed, students can focus entirely on their studies, engage fully in university life, and attend to their mental health and overall wellbeing with the assurance that their path to graduation is secure.
The impact of each scholarship extends beyond the individual scholar. Families experience significant relief as parents and guardians can redirect limited resources towards healthcare, housing, and supporting younger children. The ripple effect created for an entire household when one member’s educational journey is secured is a central part of what the Foundation seeks to achieve.
SMF regards this investment as one whose full impact will reveal itself over time, as the scholars complete their degrees and enter their chosen professions. The Foundation expects many to go on to support others in their communities, creating a multiplier effect that extends well beyond the original investment.
Drive to Inspire – Africa is a non-profit organisation with a mission to guide, inspire, and support young people, particularly girls, through education, mentorship, coaching, and community engagement. Its aim is to unlock the full potential of the young women it supports and to help them become agents of positive change in their communities.
The Sanjeev Mansotra Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Sanjeev Mansotra, Chairman of Planet One Group. A serial entrepreneur, global thought leader, and philanthropist based in Dubai. , Mansotra established SMF as a voluntary social responsibility initiative grounded in the conviction that expanded access to quality education is a bedrock for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
Planet One Group has earned recognition in Forbes Asia’s ‘Best Under a Billion’ list, Outlook Business’s ‘Fastest-Growing Companies’ ranking, and Business World’s ‘Most Valuable CEOs’. Mansotra’s leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity, sustainable development, and equitable growth — principles that are reflected in the group’s consistent integration of education and skills-building across its major projects.
SMF currently supports impactful projects across several countries in Ghana, Guinea, Togo, Sierra Leone, and IndiaAsia and Africa, focusing on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Its partnership with DTI-A represents a further expression of the Foundation’s commitment to advancing educational opportunities and women’s and youth empowerment across Africa.
