Ninety eight scholars are set to travel abroad to join 52 global universities located in 18 countries courtesy of Equity Group Foundation scholarship.
The scholars drawn from the Equity Leaders Programs in four countries, secured scholarships valued at Sh2.44 billion.
73 of them are from Kenya, 19 Rwanda, five Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC) and one from Uganda.
They will be pursuing undergraduate studies for a period of four years.
The scholars will be joining universities in different countries across the globe including the United States of America (USA), Canada, United Kingdom, China, India, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hungary among others.
Each of the students will be provided with an airlift token of up to Sh200,000 to support the transition into their global universities.
Speaking during the Airlift Ceremony held on Monday, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman James Mwangi lauded the students for staying focused on their goals and securing scholarship to access the world’s best education systems.
He urged them to stay focused in their quest for knowledge adding that Africa depends on them for future developments.
“As you step into this new phase of your life, remember that you have earned your place competitively among thousands of applicants from around the globe. You have differentiated yourself and demonstrated that you have what it takes to be a true global citizen,” Mwangi said.
“I urge you to keep that focus in your quest for knowledge. Remember that with you, Africa has hope that it can leapfrog on several development indicators, and I encourage you to remain rooted on the continent’s ambitions.”
He urged the scholars to take advantage of Technology-enabled ecosystems as it is where they have an opportunity to make significant impact.
“You will be joining academic institutions that work collaboratively with the private sector and research and who invest in cutting-edge technology necessary to give you globally competitive knowledge and skills,” Mwangi said.
“Take advantage and learn as much as you can but keeping a lens on how such technologies and systems can empower you to innovate solutions to Africa’s challenges.”
One of the scholars expressed his excitement saying the opportunity will enable him to become a living testimony to the positive impact of Equity’s mission.
“I'm excited to join the University of Toronto under the Equity Leaders Program. I aim to acquire knowledge and skills to contribute to Africa's transformation through quality education and transformative leadership,” he said.
This year, a total of 856 students have also benefited from the college counselling program and have successfully received admission to prestigious universities on fully funded scholarships.
The Equity Leadership Program is an Equity Group Foundation initiative that was established in 1998 to nurture leadership skills in the youth who have demonstrated great promise.
The program selects top-performing students nationally from the Equity Group banking subsidiaries, with the aim of creating a community of transformative leaders who will work together across borders and various sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and social progress in Africa.