Scholars tipped on transformative African leadership

The managing director of Equity Bank, Mr Gift Shoko, has urged students to remain resilient and rise above various challenges in their attainment of knowledge to become transformative leaders that will lead to the socio-economic transformation of Africa.

“The Equity leaders programme is more than just a scholarship initiative; it is a bold investment in the future of Africa. For Africa to transform, it requires transformative leaders, and this programme is made to create the foundation of that transformation in Africa. The principle that leadership, everything begins, solves and rises on leadership, so the rise and fall of Africa depends on its leaders today, we play our part to make sure that we prove a transformative and quality leader in Africa,” he said.

Mr Shoko made the remarks during the commissioning of 100 students to the fourth cohort of the Equity learners program, bringing to a total of 419 students that have so far been enrolled in the program at the African Bible University in Wakiso district on Saturday.

“It is a comprehensive package that offers paid internship opportunities, well-placed leadership, leadership coaching, and academic support, both locally and internationally…. This programme is not only about academic excellence. It is about developing critical thinking, business acumen, leadership capacity, and the life skills that you find in a company, that will change the world,” he said.
Mr Shoko said the program is designed to embody the institution's belief in the power of young minds to shape the destiny of Africa.

The equity Group Foundation Director of Operations, Dr. Joanne Korir said they hope the program to be the template of socioeconomic prosperity for people in Africa.
“These students represent a generation that will carry forward the vision of transforming our society through leadership, governing, integrity, innovation and service. It’s not going to be able to influence all the communities that we target if we don't create a ripple effect, so we are actually able to lead the change that we want to see, but also be able to give back so that this change that has been done through you can then be sustained” she said.
The program head, Ms Elizabeth Wahito, said the scholars are selected from the best students in the Uganda Advanced Education Examinations in every district where equity has advanced presence.

“In there, we are doing college counseling where we support them to do applications to global universities and also get financial aid, we also support them with leadership training and mentorship, we are looking at them becoming transformative leaders in their communities, so in addition to do that, we also empower them to give back to the communities” she said.

Ms Wahito said the commissioned cohort of scholars completed a week-long internship, where they were taken through equity bank, history, the department of the bank, preparing them to join the institution's branches for a three-year bachelor's internship starting next week.