Equity sees 40 students join global varsities

Some of the Equity Group Foundation (EGF) beneficiaries. EGF Chairman James Mwangi says the programme is geared towards bridging the academic gap for local and international students. [Photo: Courtesy]

Gifted students enrolled in the Equity Group Foundation (EGF) administered Equity African Leaders Programme (EALP) have got scholarship to join some of the world’s prestigious universities this year. The 40 students, sat for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in various local Secondary schools last year.

The record admission of 40 Kenyan students at one go to the EALP programme will push the total number of students undertaking such studies abroad under this programme to 190 scholars.

EGF Chairman James Mwangi said the EALP Programme is one of the bank’s social investment programmes, geared at bridging the academic gap for local and international students. He observed that the programme provides access to world class academic opportunities for the best girl and boy in the KCSE, from each county; where Equity Bank operates.

Rolled out in 1998, the EALP is a rigorous internship-based leadership development programme that aims to create a community of talented leaders who are capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges.

Leading Universities that have offered scholarships this year include Yale University, University of Toronto, Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Cambridge and Columbia University. Others are London School of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cape Town, University of Manchester, University of Pennsylvania among others.

“We are proud to witness another group of students being airlifted to leading world universities after a year’s mentorship among other gifted scholars admitted to this year’s EALP,” he noted.”The dividend that we are waiting for is nothing else other than your success. And your success is our greatest pride,” he added.

EALP provides benefiting scholars with paid internship opportunities and a college savings scheme to help finance their studies. The programme trains scholars through programming activities in academic vitality, professional development, entrepreneurship and innovation. This is aimed at developing a generation of servant leaders who will think globally and are inspired to fight poverty and embrace sustainable development.

Wings To Fly

EALP has benefited about 2000 scholars who have studied or are studying in both local and foreign universities. The scholar’s intern at Equity Bank branches before joining their respective universities and also during universities’ holidays. 103 Wings To Fly scholars from the inaugural class were among the 410 top 2013 KCSE performers in their sub-counties that joined EALP earlier this year.

More than 50 EALP scholars participating in the 2014 Global Scholars Internship Program returned to Kenya from universities abroad during their summer holidays to undertake internships at Equity Bank and its subsidiaries.

EGF Managing Director Dr Helen Gichohi urged the scholars to adopt a global mindset.