Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman James Mwangi poses for a photo with the students/COURTESY A total of 121 students from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have secured scholarships worth more than US$23.4 million (about Sh3 billion) to pursue undergraduate studies at top universities worldwide.
The beneficiaries of the Equity Leaders Program (ELP) will join 63 universities in 16 countries across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa during the 2025/2026 academic year.
The latest cohort comprises 86 Kenyan students, 29 from Rwanda, four from Uganda and two from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The scholarships will cover their undergraduate education.
Speaking during their commissioning ceremony in Nairobi on Friday, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman James Mwangi challenged the scholars to use their international exposure and education to contribute to Africa’s development.
“The continent’s next chapter of growth will be shaped by well-prepared, values-led talent. As you leave for global universities, remember you are carrying the dreams of your families and the expectations of our nations,” Mwangi said.
He urged the students to “learn boldly, lead with integrity” and return home equipped with world-class knowledge, networks and confidence to create opportunities and drive shared prosperity across Africa.
European Union Deputy Head of Delegation to Kenya Ondrej Simek congratulated the scholars for earning places at some of the world’s leading universities through a competitive selection process.
“Work hard, stay curious, push beyond your comfort zone and build friendships across cultures as you learn from the world around you as much as from the classroom,” Simek said.
He encouraged them to maximise the opportunities presented by studying abroad and return home ready to play a role in transforming their communities and countries.
Twenty scholars in the latest cohort have secured admission to Ivy League universities in the United States, pushing the cumulative number of ELP beneficiaries admitted to Ivy League institutions to 240.
A further 44 scholars have completed interviews for government-sponsored scholarships and are awaiting final admission decisions. They include 23 candidates interviewed for the Türkiye Government Scholarship and 21 for the Romania Government Scholarship.
Among the latest beneficiaries is Ugandan scholar Aime Iradukunda, who will study Electrical Engineering and Economics at Harvard College.
Iradukunda emerged as the top-performing male student in Mityana District in the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education examinations. He said he had applied to about 14 universities before receiving his Harvard admission.
“I believed my chances of getting into Harvard were very slim, so when the acceptance letter came, I was in complete disbelief,” he said.
“This opportunity has made it possible for me to pursue a dream I once thought was beyond my reach.”
Kenyan scholar Grace Sang’, a former Alliance Girls High School student who scored an A in the 2025 KCSE examinations, will study Computer Science at New York University Abu Dhabi.
Sang’ said experiences shared by former ELP beneficiaries while she was in secondary school encouraged her to pursue opportunities at international universities.
“The college counselling programme helped me realise that my achievements, interests and personal story all had value,” she said.
The ELP combines mentorship, leadership development, paid internships and university application support for academically gifted students.
According to the Equity Group Foundation, the programme has so far helped 1,236 scholars secure admission and scholarships at 247 universities in 40 countries across six continents.
