29 Scholars from Equity Leaders’ Program Graduate from University

Equity Bank Uganda has celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of Equity Leaders Program (ELP) scholars, who have successfully completed their 3-year University Bachelor’s degree programs.

Of the 122 young leaders commissioned during the program’s inaugural intake in January 2022, 29 scholars have graduated from their respective Universities in this maiden cohort, demonstrating the program’s focus on nurturing academic and leadership excellence.

Some of these scholars have gained valuable work experience at Equity Bank, with others continuing to pursue exciting career paths and opportunities across various industries.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony on behalf of Dr. James Mwangi, the Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Gift Shoko, Managing Director of Equity Bank Uganda, commended the scholars for their dedication and lauded the transformative impact of the leadership training and mentorship program.

 “The graduating scholars exemplify our commitment to driving socio-economic growth across Africa. Their university undergraduate graduation milestone marks a moment of pride not only for our scholars but for Equity Bank Uganda and the Equity Group Foundation’s vision of empowering young leaders to create meaningful change within their communities,” he said.

He added, “Education is the key to social and economic transformation, and the Equity Leaders Program represents our determination to nurture resilient and visionary leaders. As we celebrate this maiden cohort, we look forward to seeing these scholars emerge as beacons of excellence, driving progress in Uganda and beyond.”

The Equity Leaders Program, under the Education and Leadership Development pillar of Equity Group Foundation, is committed to empowering academically gifted young scholars. The programme currently runs in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and the DRC. This rigorous program equips participants with leadership skills, mentorship, and professional networks to address Africa’s most pressing challenges. It blends academic excellence, character development, mentorship, and practical experience to cultivate a generation of future leaders.

As part of this first cohort, the scholars have gained valuable professional experience through internships with Equity Bank. Some have transitioned into exciting career paths, contributing to various industries and sectors. Others continue to engage with the Bank through mentorship initiatives and contract opportunities, demonstrating the program’s enduring value and the strong partnership between Equity Bank and its scholars.

Congratulating the scholars, Elizabeth Wahito, Acting Head of the Public Sector & Social Investment Unit at Equity Bank Uganda, reflected on the broader vision of the program: “Equity’s commitment goes beyond financial empowerment—it is about creating a lifelong network of peers for mentorship, inspiration, and shared opportunities. As we celebrate this maiden cohort, we are confident that they will carry the torch of leadership, breaking barriers, and contributing to Uganda’s and Africa’s prosperity. Congratulations to our graduates—the future is in your hands, and we believe it is brighter because of you.”

Since the inaugural intake in 2022, Equity Bank Uganda has commissioned two additional cohorts in 2023 and 2024, admitting 94 and 103 top-performing students respectively from 30 districts where the Bank has a branch presence. Plans are underway to induct a fourth cohort following the release of the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results.

As part of the program, scholars undergo a 3-6 month paid internship with Equity Bank, receiving a monthly stipend and gaining hands-on experience across various departments. Post-internship, mentorship and coaching continue throughout their university education to ensure a holistic development experience.

This graduation ceremony not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of the first cohort but also reinforces Equity Bank’s commitment to empowering Uganda’s youth through education, mentorship, and leadership development.

The Equity Leaders Program (ELP), which is one of the initiatives under Equity Group Foundation’s (EGF) Education and Leadership Development pillar, was founded in 1998 and has scaled up over time to benefit 23,825 university scholars. Among these, 970 scholars have been admitted to top global universities on fully funded scholarships, positioning them to contribute significantly to the continent’s growth and development.

The Program is dedicated to empowering young academically gifted scholars. Currently the Equity Leaders Program runs in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and DRC. This program seeks to nurture these promising scholars through intensive mentorship and leadership development exposure and initiatives. It is fervently committed to stimulating personal and professional growth, fostering creativity and innovation, and promoting active community engagement among the scholars.

The leadership development model seeks to develop scholars in four program areas: personal and professional development; global exposure; creativity & innovation; and community engagement. Scholars in the paid internship program have an opportunity to join the College Counselling Program to receive coaching and mentorship on how to apply to and secure admissions in leading global institutions. For those who study locally, they join ELP University Chapters that provide them an opportunity to continue being in a network and further hone their leadership and personal development. After this, ELP graduates from these institutions have proceeded to have fulfilling careers in leading global institutions in the fields of Finance, Health, IT, among others.

Equity Group Foundation (EGF), the corporate impact implementing foundation of Equity Group Holdings Plc, has as its mission to champion the transformation of lives and livelihoods for 100 million people in Africa by 2030 through the design and implementation of innovative programs that leverage Equity Group’s infrastructure and partnerships to create shared value and prosperity.

Established in 2008 as the Group’s social engine, the Foundation delivers economic opportunities, capacity, tools, and technologies that enable individuals and businesses to increase productivity, become more resilient and share in socio-economic growth. EGF responds to the continuum of issues that challenge the socio-economic advancement of the people of Africa, especially low-income individuals, and families. EGF’s Creating Shared Value [CSV] strategy provides social development initiatives in Education and Leadership Development, Food and Agriculture, Health, Financial Inclusion and Enterprise Development, Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Social Protections for the most vulnerable citizens and Innovation and Technology in order to solve some of Africa’s most challenging issues and support talented young people with ideas to thrive.

EGF’s programs are underpinned by technology, innovation, and synergy as a central means to launch, nurture, and scale up Africa’s next generation of successful leaders and entrepreneurs delivered to all communities in which Equity has operations.