Equity Bank Uganda welcomes 100 top students to 4th cohort of Equity Leaders Program

May 4, 2025 in Companies by Editor

Equity Bank Uganda has today inducted the fourth cohort of its prestigious Equity Leaders Program (ELP), selecting 100 top-performing students from across the country to begin their journey toward leadership, mentorship, and global academic opportunities.

The scholars, chosen for their exceptional performance in the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams, represent the top-performing boy and girl from each district where Equity Bank operates a branch. The ceremony, marking the official start of their induction, was held at African Bible University in Lubowa on Sunday, May 4, ahead of a week-long orientation program.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Barbara Among, Communications Manager at Equity Bank Uganda, said the ELP is designed to develop a new generation of transformational African leaders by providing academic support, leadership training, mentorship, and global exposure.

“This is a mentorship and leadership development initiative aimed at empowering promising young scholars to become effective leaders capable of tackling Africa’s challenges,” she said during a webinar on Friday, May 2.

Upon arrival, each scholar is formally onboarded into the Equity system and given a unique ELP identification number, making them lifelong members of the program and the broader Equity Bank family.

The induction process, running until May 10, will include intensive training in soft skills, leadership development, and career grooming, laying a strong foundation for the scholars as they prepare for the next stages of the program, including internships and international university applications.

Following induction, the students will embark on a three- to six-month paid internship with Equity Bank, working across various departments to gain hands-on experience and on-the-job mentorship. The internship includes a monthly stipend, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to providing both educational and financial support.

In addition to professional experience, the Equity Leaders Program offers high-achieving scholars access to its College Counseling Program, which helps them prepare and apply for admission and financial aid at top-tier global universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.

Among noted that this aspect of the program plays a pivotal role in helping students adapt to international academic environments and successfully transition into global leadership arenas.

The ELP also places a strong emphasis on regional integration, with scholars from Uganda collaborating with peers from Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This creates a vibrant network of young leaders sharing knowledge and forging cross-border partnerships to address Africa’s development challenges.

Since its launch in Kenya in 2018, the ELP has grown into a continental initiative, with thousands of students benefiting from leadership training and university placement support. Many alumni have gone on to pursue degrees at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, returning to make meaningful contributions in their home countries.