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1,644 beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship programs drawn across the Rift Valley region congregate at Nakuru High School for the 15th Annual Education and Leadership Congress under the theme ‘Educate, Empower, Lead: The Triad to Success.’
In her keynote address, Equity Bank Kenya Associate Director Public Sector and Institutional Banking, Amb. Mary Mugwanja urged scholars to embrace perseverance, take charge of their destinies and leave lasting impacts in society.
“Let’s examine our purpose, values and how we can positively impact the world through education and leadership. Your accomplishments thus far are a testament to your hard work, dedication, and intellectual prowess. Beyond personal victories, they serve as beacons of hope and inspiration to your peers and community,” said Amb. Mugwanja.
She emphasized education goes beyond textbooks and classrooms, describing it as a journey that opens doors, broadens horizons, and empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of the world confidently.
“To make education wholesome, find mentors to offer you guidance and wisdom based on their experiences, learning from their successes and failures. Knowledge acquired must be applied in real-life through internships, volunteer work or outreach programs,” said Amb. Mugwanja, while further stressing that empowerment is about seizing control of one’s destiny.
To promote academic success and foster personal empowerment, the former diplomat advised the students to set clear goals, develop effective study habits, seek guidance as well as embrace perseverance and resilience.
“Aspire to be great and visionary leaders of tomorrow. Education and empowerment provide the key foundation for effective leadership, equipping individuals with the knowledge, confidence, and empathy necessary for leading with a purpose,” she said, while reaffirming Equity’s lasting commitment to partnering with government in providing access to education for disadvantaged children in society.
Several other speakers offered mentorship to the scholars, including officials from Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) and captains of industries.
Guest speaker and Nakuru County Director of Education, Victoria Mulili advised the scholars to strive towards becoming icons and worthy reference points in their respective communities.
“By the time you finish high school, you should be an all-round person courtesy of this annual mentorship and coaching initiatives. Never stop dreaming, never stop believing in yourself and never stop learning,” said Mulili, adding that students must remain open minded to new ideas and extra knowledge besides academic work.
Mulili hailed Equity for empowering the youth and transforming their lives through education scholarships and leadership mentorships.
“We are proud of the Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship programs. As a government official I want to reiterate our willingness to strengthen our partnership with Equity. This is with the view of expanding these programs to support more bright but needy students to realize their dreams,” said Mulili.
“Know who you are, have something to stand for and develop a solid character and personality. Also, remember you have done nothing until you do something to someone who can never repay you,” said Mulili.
In their vote of thanks after the congress, the beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship program expressed utmost gratitude to the masterminds of the programs and their partners for the support.
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“We are grateful to Equity Bank, the government of Kenya and other partners for ensuring we get a lifeline though education, just when most of us were about to despair and give up in life. Thanks to these programs, we now have doctors, engineers, and scientists in the making,” said Lilian Mwangi, a student at Njonjo High School and a beneficiary of the program.
EGF has so far held a series of 19 congresses across the country this April holiday, mentoring and coaching a total of 23,101 Form 3 and 4 beneficiaries of Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship program, including refugees at Kakuma and Dadaaba camps.