From Nansana to Harvard: Ugandan scholar Gavin Alimu joins 128 others in Equity Leaders Programme’s Global University Airlift

August 13, 2025 in Companies by Editor

 

• In the 2024/2025 application cycle, a total of 128 ELP scholars, from Kenya (87), Uganda (4), Rwanda (33), DRC (4) received admission for studies in global universities

 

• The value of their full scholarships amounts to USD 21,643,117 for the 4-year duration of their studies.

 

          The scholars have received admission to 62 Universities in 19 countries and from 5 different continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

 

• To date, under the ELP program, 1098 scholars have received admissions and scholarships to global universities.

 

When Garvin Alimu first walked through the gates of Little Muheji Nursery and Primary School in Nansana, Harvard University was a world away — a distant dream for a young boy in a dusty Kampala suburb. This month, that dream takes flight. Alimu is one of four Ugandans among 128 students from East and Central Africa beginning life at some of the world’s most prestigious universities under Equity Group’s flagship Equity Leaders Programme (ELP).

The 2024/2025 intake of ELP scholars has secured places at 62 universities in 19 countries across five continents, with full scholarships worth a combined USD 21.6 million for the duration of their four-year studies. Kenya produced the largest cohort (87), followed by Rwanda (33), Uganda (4) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4).

For Uganda, the group’s destinations are a reflection of ambition meeting opportunity. Alimu heads to Harvard University to study Engineering. He is joined by Abel Ahwera and Claire Nsaba, who will pursue engineering courses at New York University’s Abu Dhabi campus. The fourth, beneficiary heads to the University of Waterloo, Canada where he will also be pursuing engineering studies under full sponsorship.

Hard work, setbacks, and resilience

Alimu’s path was anything but straightforward. After excelling at King’s College Budo with 20 points in his A-level UNEB exams, he faced the challenge of adapting to American college admissions — a world of essays, panel interviews, and SAT scores. “Equity Bank staff had to prepare me for four straight months,” he recalls. “I sat for the SAT four times. Through it all, the resilience and unity fostered within the Equity Leaders Program kept me focused and determined. This opportunity is not just for me, it’s for the collective good of our communities.”

Nsaba’s journey was also marked by detours and doubt. Hailing from Kisoro District and scoring 20 points at MaryHill High School, she faced scammers and rejections from some universities before her final attempt — an application to NYU Abu Dhabi — was accepted. “Rejection doesn’t mean you’re not good enough; it can be life redirecting you to something better,” she says. She will study Environmental Engineering, determined to contribute to climate resilience solutions for Uganda.

A pipeline of African changemakers

The airlift, with satellite events in Kampala, Kigali and Kinshasa, was commissioned in Nairobi by Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi, who framed the programme as both a personal opportunity for the scholars and an investment in Africa’s transformation.

“As you embark on your global education, remember that your unique perspectives and skills are vital to unlocking Africa’s vast potential. Return with a spirit of innovation, a commitment to building a more prosperous and equitable Africa, and the knowledge, skills, and networks to drive economic growth and social progress,” he told the departing students.

The programme’s reach is now significant. Since its inception, 1,098 students have earned places at global universities under fully funded scholarships, including 16 this year headed to Ivy League institutions — among them four to Harvard, eight to Princeton, and others to Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania.

In Uganda, ELP launched in 2022 and has since admitted 419 scholars. Thirteen are currently studying in the USA, Russia, Germany, and Mauritius, while others are enrolled at leading local universities.

Beyond academics

The ELP experience goes beyond grades. Participants undergo a rigorous development process that includes mentorship, leadership training, and professional placements. Scholars will also receive USD 2000 each as an “airlift token” to ease their transition into their new environments abroad.

For Alimu and Nsaba, the programme has meant more than just a ticket to prestigious campuses. It has provided a support system and a sense of purpose. As Nsaba puts it: “Now, I’m pursuing my passion, proof that persistence and faith can open doors you never imagined.”

As the four Ugandan scholars board their flights, they carry with them not just personal ambitions but the hopes of communities that see in them a promise — that the road from a small school in Nansana or a rural district in Kisoro can lead to the halls of Harvard or New York University, and that such journeys can light the way for others.