Wings To Fly: Over 1,000 have an opportunity to advance their education

Some 1,000 students have been awarded full scholarships by Equity Bank. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Some 1,000 students have been awarded full scholarships by Equity Bank to pursue secondary education.

At the same time, 24 students who sat KCSE examination last year have earned an opportunity to pursue their studies abroad.

Speaking during the launch of the sixth cohort of students who graduated from its Wings to Fly programme, Equity Bank Group CEO James Mwangi said 16,158 students have so far benefited from the programme with a 100 per cent transition.

“Some 10,084 who have finished their secondary education, 8,062 proceeded to the university, and the remaining 2,000 have joined TVET institutions,” Mwangi said.

He said thus far, for every 10 scholars they have given scholarships in the past, seven made it to university.

“The return on investment is seven times the national average and that is why we owe it to the scholars for doing very well,” he said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said the initiative plays a key role in supplementing the government’s agenda in ensuring access to education for all.

“It is pleasant to note that the structure and implementation of this programme is aligned to our national universal education policy and the constitutional imperative of the right to education for every Kenyan child,” said Amina.

She said the bank’s mentorship programmes contributed immensely to creation of all rounded learners capable of tackling hard social and economic challenges.

“As it has been said repeatedly, a society cannot perform in any form or shape if more than 50 per cent of its population that is female is denied the opportunity to imagine, to innovate and to create,” she added.