KAMPALA, Uganda — The Equity Leadership Program (ELP) has successfully secured full scholarships for 128 scholars from four African countries to attend 62 universities across 19 countries in the upcoming academic year. The total value of these scholarships is more than Ksh. 2.79 billion (USD 21.6 million), covering the full four-year duration of their undergraduate studies.
The students hail from Kenya (87), Rwanda (33), Uganda (4), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4). Dr. James Mwangi, Executive Chairman of the Equity Group Foundation, commissioned the scholars at a ceremony, marking their send-off to universities on five continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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This year’s cohort includes 16 students who will be attending Ivy League institutions, with Harvard University welcoming four students and Princeton University admitting eight.
In his address, Dr. Mwangi emphasized the students’ role as future leaders. “As you embark on your global education, remember that your unique perspectives and skills are vital to unlocking Africa’s vast potential,” he said. He urged them to return to the continent with a spirit of innovation and a commitment to its transformation.
Garvin Alimu, an ELP scholar from Uganda who is heading to Harvard University to study engineering, shared his personal journey, highlighting the extensive support he received from the program. “This opportunity is not just for me; it’s for the collective good of our communities, to inspire others and pave the way for future generations,” he said.
Claire Nsaba, another Ugandan scholar who will pursue environmental engineering at New York University, Abu Dhabi, spoke about her resilience in the face of rejection. She credited the program’s mentorship for helping her understand that setbacks can lead to better opportunities.
This latest group of scholars brings the total number of students who have received scholarships through the ELP to 1,098. The program, an initiative of the Equity Group Foundation, aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders by providing top-performing students with access to world-class education and essential leadership skills.
The Equity Leaders Program, founded in 1998, identifies and nurtures top-performing students from within Equity Group’s subsidiaries. The program’s holistic approach focuses on academic excellence, character development, and practical experience to prepare young minds to drive sustainable economic and social progress across Africa.
2024/2025 GLOBAL SCHOLARS’ ADMISSION SUMMARY
| Continent | Country and Institution | Female | Male | Grand Total |
| Africa (44) | Rwanda | 18 | 6 | 24 |
| Adventists University of Central Africa (AUCA) | 1 | 1 | ||
| Africa Leadership University (ALU) | 8 | 3 | 11 | |
| Adventist School of Medicine of East and Central Africa (ASOME) | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Global Health Equity-UGHE | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| University of Rwanda | 5 | 1 | 6 | |
| Mauritius | 7 | 5 | 12 | |
| African Leadership College of Higher Education | 7 | 5 | 12 | |
| South Africa | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| University of Pretoria | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| Algeria | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| University of Bilda | 1 | 1 | ||
| Université des Sciences et de la Technologie D’Oran | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Badji Moktar des Annaba | 1 | 1 | ||
| North America (43) | USA | 17 | 20 | 37 |
| Amherst College | 2 | 2 | ||
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 1 | 1 | ||
| Claremont McKenna College | 1 | 1 | ||
| Colgate University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Columbia University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Davidson College | 1 | 1 | ||
| Duke University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Emory University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Harvard University | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Howard University | 2 | 2 | ||
| Johns Hopkins University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Macalester College | 1 | 1 | ||
| Massachusetts Institute of   Technology (MIT) | 1 | 1 | ||
| Northwestern University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Princeton University | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
| St. Lawrence University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Stanford University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Tufts University | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Arizona | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Pennsylvania | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Wesleyan University | 1 | 1 | ||
| William Paterson University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Williams College | 1 | 1 | ||
| Canada | 4 | 4 | ||
| Huron University College | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of British Columbia | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Toronto | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Waterloo | 1 | 1 | ||
| Cuba | 2 | 2 | ||
| Â Latin America School of Medicine (ELAM) | 2 | 2 | ||
| Asia (26) | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| New York University, Abu Dhabi | 3 | 8 | 11 | |
| China | 7 | 7 | ||
| Alibaba Business School (Hangzhou Normal University) | 4 | 4 | ||
| Duke Kunshan University | 1 | 1 | ||
| New York University, Shanghai | 1 | 1 | ||
| Shihezi University | 1 | 1 | ||
| India | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Anna University (Madras Institute of Technology) | 3 | 3 | ||
| Delhi Technological University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Kurukshetra University | 1 | 1 | ||
| Japan | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ashinaga Africa Initiative | 1 | 1 | ||
| Lebanon | 1 | 1 | ||
| American University of Beirut (AUB) | 1 | 1 | ||
| Qatar | 1 | 1 | ||
| Georgetown University – Qatar | 1 | 1 | ||
| Italy | 4 | 4 | ||
| Europe (14) | Universita Politecnica Delle Marche | 1 | 1 | |
| University of Cassino and Southern Lazio | 2 | 2 | ||
| Â University of Parthenope | 1 | 1 | ||
| France | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| IUT de Metz, Université de Lorraine | 1 | 1 | ||
| IUT Henri Poincaré de Longwy | 1 | 1 | ||
| Universite de Bretagne Occidentale | 1 | 1 | ||
| Hungary | 3 | 3 | ||
| Budapest University of Technology and Economics | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Debrecen | 1 | 1 | ||
| University of Pecs | 1 | 1 | ||
| Russia | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Moscow Power Engineering Institute | 1 | 1 | ||
| Moscow State University of Civil Engineering | 1 | 1 | ||
| Slovakia | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matej Bel university | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | ||
| South America (1) | Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul | 1 | 1 | |
| Grand Total | 55 | 73 | 128 |
