Equity Group Foundation has announced the selection of 750 top secondary school graduates in Kenya to its prestigious Equity Leaders Programme (ELP).
These top-performing students who are joining the Pre- University Paid Internship programme within the ELP will embark on a six-month internship at Equity Bank branches nationwide as they prepare for their university journey later this year.
The cohort consists of 350 Wings to Fly Scholars and Elimu Scholars who achieved Grade A and A-, 167 top-performing students from each sub-county who scored Grade A (Plain), and 233 top national scholars who earned a minimum of Grade A (Plain) with 84 points in their final exams.
While addressing the scholars at the commissioning ceremony in Nairobi, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi assured the scholars that their selection to the programme was a clear demonstration of the consistent excellence and determination in their academic journey adding that the Foundation is proud to have them as part of this transformative experience.
Dr. Mwangi maintained that the Programme not only provided the scholars with valuable work experience, but nurtured their leadership skills, empowered them to become change-makers in their communities and beyond, and equipped them with the tools to succeed in both their university studies and professional future.
“You represent the future of Africa, and we at Equity are excited to walk with you as you take your next steps. This is just the beginning of your journey to greatness. We believe in you, and we are here to support you every step of the way,” he expressed.
The commissioning ceremony was held after a two-week intensive induction programme which included interactions with leaders from various industries, including Equity Group’s leadership team.
Scholars engaged in discussions on leadership, personal growth, and community development, ensuring a holistic approach to their learning experience, insights the Foundation believes would help position them for success in their academic and future careers.
During their two-week induction, the scholars were addressed by Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director Moses Nyabanda, who emphasized the importance of trust, honesty, and integrity in leadership.
“As future leaders, it is crucial that you are known for your principles and here at Equity, we believe in values such as professionalism, integrity, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and a shared purpose,” he highlighted, adding that the institution stresses respect and dignity for its customers, as well as strong corporate governance.
Further, Nyabanda challenged the scholars to embody these values, not only in their work, but also in their everyday life as they stepped into roles that would shape the future.
Meanwhile, as part of the programme, the interns will receive a monthly stipend during their six-month internship, with a portion of the stipend saved and released to them upon their transition to university to instill a saving culture early.
In addition, this initiative helps facilitate a smooth academic transition, providing financial support for their higher education.
The scholars will also receive mentorship and coaching from globally experienced and accomplished professionals with diverse skills to deepen their knowledge before they settled on what careers to pursue and what to study.
Dieume Baraka, a former student of Starehe Boys Centre who achieved an A (Plain) in the 2024 KCSE and is also an alumnus of the Elimu Scholarship Programme, shared his journey of hailing from a background marked by unimaginable hardship including challenges faced while living in refugee camps, enduring displacement, or struggling with basic needs for his education.
Baraka said he has always maintained his belief that education was the key to a brighter future and has remained focused on his dream of bringing change to his community.
“Being selected for the Equity Leaders Programme is a tremendous opportunity, and I am excited to be part of a programme that will not only provide me with valuable skills but also equip me with the leadership tools I need to create a more peaceful and united world,” asserted Baraka, as he hopes to study a course at university, to better understand and contribute to the healing of his community and beyond.
On the other hand, a former student of Parklands Arya Girls Secondary School Salmo Abdullahi Hassan who achieved an A- (Minus) in the 2024 KCSE, highlighted the great opportunity Equity has provided the scholars through the Programme expressing gratitude for the chance to be part of it.
She noted that the two weeks of leadership mentorship have been incredible, particularly the interactions with the Bank’s leadership and the insightful mentors.
“I am really looking forward to the six-month internship, where I hope to learn more from experienced colleagues, grow as an individual, and expand my world view as I prepare to join university,” Hassan said with excitement for the future reiterating her readiness to use the lessons learnt to make a positive impact.
In his remarks, Elema Badaqe Duba, a former student of Makueni Boys High School who achieved an A- (Minus) in the 2024 KCSE and is also an alumnus of the Wings to Fly programme, revealed that growing up in Marsabit as the firstborn in a family of seven, he faced immense challenges, including sleeping outside due to the high temperatures and walking long distances to school.
Despite these hardships, Duba said that he remained determined to excel academically, drawing inspiration from his deep desire to work hard and provide for his family and lift them out of poverty.
“Being selected for the Equity Leaders Programme is a dream come true, and I am eager to use this opportunity to gain the skills and leadership experience that will help me achieve my goal of transforming my family’s life and contributing to my community’s development,” he stated.
Since inception, the ELP has grown significantly supporting 29,515 scholars studying at local and global universities and with the addition of the new cohort of 750 scholars, the total number of scholars who have benefited from the Equity Leadership Program’s 6-month pre-university internship program now stands at 9,700.
During the internship, the ELP scholars are nurtured to succeed and thrive in the workplace through mentorship, leadership, life skills, and work readiness training.
They also have an opportunity to join Equity’s bespoke College Counselling programme that has to date supported 970 scholars to attend global universities on fully funded scholarships across 233 universities in 37 countries and 6 continents, with 204 having attended Ivy League universities.
Further, the global scholars benefit from a comprehensive two-month College Counselling programme where they receive expert guidance on essay writing, university selection, and exam preparation.
Additionally, a week-long boot-camp equips them with the necessary skills to navigate the transition to university life and thrive as global scholars.
The global scholar’s programme is a manifestation of Equity’s commitment to a creative approach to knowledge exchange and global interconnectedness. This initiative goes beyond traditional academic frameworks, emphasizing critical thinking, leadership training, and exposure to diverse educational environments.
Also, the initiative breaks down geographical barriers, offering African scholars access to world-class education which not only creates a pipeline of globally competitive talent but also fosters innovation through exposure to diverse educational environments and methodologies, preparing students for the global stage, fostering innovation through exposure to different perspectives and challenges.
The Equity Leaders Programme, an initiative of Equity Group Foundation, continues to impact the lives of countless young people by preparing them to thrive in their future educational and professional endeavors.
Alongside entrepreneurship in various sectors of the economy, ELP alumni have gone on to establish 132 Equity Afya medical centres with presence in all 47 counties of Kenya with 5 units established in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2024.
By Michael Omondi