The Equity Group Foundation has launched the latest cohort of its Equity Leaders Program (ELP), selecting 750 of the country’s best performing students for the highly competitive pre-university internship. The new intake consists of:
- 350 scholars from the Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship programs who got Grade A and A- in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
- 167 top performers from sub-counties across Kenya who got Grade A (Plain).
- 233 national scholars who got a minimum of 84 points in their KCSE exams.
These scholars will attend a six-month paid internship at Equity Bank branches across the country before joining university later in the year.
Equipping Scholars for Leadership and Success
At the commissioning ceremony, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi praised the students for their hard work and commitment to excellence.
“You are here today because of your academic excellence and determination. This is not just work experience; it’s leadership, skills and preparing you to be agents of change in your communities and beyond. We are proud to walk with you in this journey equipping you with the tools to excel in university and your future careers,” said Dr. Mwangi.
The scholars underwent a two-week induction program where they met industry leaders including Equity Group executives. The sessions focused on leadership, personal growth and community impact equipping students with a 360 degree perspective as they step into their professional journey.
Values-Driven Leadership
Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director, Moses Nyabanda told the scholars to uphold integrity and ethical leadership during his address.
“As future leaders you must be recognized for your integrity, professionalism and excellence. At Equity we value teamwork, innovation and corporate governance, we treat our customers with respect and dignity. I challenge you to embody these principles not just during your internship but throughout your careers and daily lives,” he said.
Financial Literacy and Career Development
Throughout the internship scholars will receive a monthly stipend with a portion set aside as savings to support their transition into university. This will inculcate financial discipline and ease their academic journey. Scholars will also get mentorship from professionals across various fields to explore different career paths before choosing their university courses.
Scholars’ Journeys
Several scholars shared their stories:
- Dieume Baraka, a former Starehe Boys Centre student and Elimu Scholarship alumnus, overcame huge challenges including displacement and life in refugee camps to get an A (Plain) in 2024 KCSE exams. He sees this as a stepping stone to making a difference in his community.
- Salmo Abdullahi Hassan, from Parklands Arya Girls Secondary School, got an A- (Minus) and thanked the leadership mentorship, looking forward to the internship experience.
- Elema Badaqe Duba, an alumnus of Makueni Boys High School and Wings to Fly, persevered through tough conditions in Marsabit to get an A- (Minus). He hopes to use the skills acquired from the program to uplift his family and community.
Equity Leadership Program’s Growing Footprint
Since its inception, Equity Leadership Program has supported 29,515 scholars in pursuing higher education in local and international universities. With the addition of this year’s 750 scholars, the total number of scholars in the six-month pre-university internship is now 9,700.
ELP provides students with mentorship, work readiness training and leadership development. A few scholars also benefit from Equity’s College Counseling Program which has secured full scholarships for 970 students to attend top global universities in 37 countries including Ivy League institutions.
Beyond academics, ELP has contributed to national development, with alumni establishing 132 Equity Afya medical centers in all 47 counties in Kenya and 5 in DRC in 2024.
About the Equity Leaders Program
Launched in 1998 under the Equity Group Foundation’s Education and Leadership Development pillar, the Equity Leaders Program aims to develop future African leaders through mentorship, leadership training and career guidance. The program operates in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and DRC, offering high-achieving students opportunities for both local and global exposure.
ELP cultivates personal and professional development, creativity, innovation and community engagement. Scholars in the paid internship program have access to coaching on how to get into top global universities while those studying locally benefit from ELP University Chapters which facilitate networking and continued leadership growth.