Beneficiaries of the Equity Leaders Programme have hailed the initiative as a transformative career pathway, citing upcoming mentorship, paid professional experience and leadership development as key advantages that will shape their personal and professional growth.
The programme enrolls top performing KCSE graduates from the Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship schemes, together with the highest national and sub-county scorers.
This year, Equity Bank has admitted 733 scholars countrywide, including 12 students; six male and six female flagged off during a launch event at the bank’s Moi Avenue branch in Mombasa.
Sofia Sharif Twahir, from Ganjoni and an alumna of Bahari Girls High School, said she anticipates the programme will build on the foundation already laid by Equity’s earlier support.
“Equity has lifted me through their mentorship programme. I have learnt how to become a leader and acquired core values such as discipline, integrity and respect,” Twahir said.
She added that the bank’s sponsorship through her secondary education enabled her to complete school successfully.
“I also appreciate Equity for sponsoring my secondary school education and making it possible for me to accomplish my studies. I look forward to the opportunity to work and earn through this programme,” she said.
Derrick Oluoch Odhiambo credited news of the programme for fuelling his academic drive, leading him to score 84 points in the KCSE.
“I am really happy about this programme. Equity has enabled us to pursue our education and they have a programme to enable people to work abroad,” Odhiambo said.
He explained his long-term ambition, “I aspire to pursue aeronautical engineering in the United States and give back to the community in Kenya. I learnt about the programme from a student who participated last year, and that motivated me to work hard and achieve the grades needed to join,” he added.
Claude Njulu Kililo, Branch Manager at Equity Bank, Digo Road, outlined the structure of the six-month pre-university phase.
“From here today they will go for an induction where they will be welcomed into the programme, after which they will be sent to different branches where they effectively become bank employees,” Kililo said.
He noted that participants will receive monthly salaries during the attachment. “When they are home for the long holidays after joining university, they will return to their branches and work until the holiday ends. In the process they will continue earning and gaining valuable learning experience,” Kililo explained.
The programme targets students from the Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship schemes, who attained at least A- in KCSE, with national-level selection including all students who scored straight As, plus the top male and female candidate from each sub-county.
The Equity Leaders Programme, a long-standing initiative under the Equity Group Foundation, forms part of the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility efforts to empower academically talented but economically disadvantaged young people, equipping them with the skills and exposure needed to become effective leaders and contributors to national development. Similar launch events were held at Equity branches across the country.
By Sitati Reagan
