128 Equity Leadership Program Scholars Secure Admission to Top Global Universities
Nairobi, Kenya – August 14, 2025 – The Equity Leadership Program (ELP) has announced that 128 of its scholars from across four countries have secured admission and full scholarships to join 63 global universities across 20 countries.
In the 2024/2025 application cycle, 87 students from Kenya, 33 from Rwanda, 4 from Uganda, and 4 from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) received offers valued at KShs. 2.79 billion (USD 21.6 million) for the four-year duration of their undergraduate studies. Each scholar also received an airlift token of up to KShs. 200,000 to support their transition abroad.
The milestone brings the total number of ELP scholars who have received admissions and scholarships to prestigious universities to 1,098 since the program’s inception. This year’s cohort includes 16 students admitted to Ivy League universities: Harvard (4), Princeton (8), University of Pennsylvania (3), and Columbia University (1).
Commissioning the airlift, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi hailed the program as an investment in Africa’s transformation.
“The Equity Leaders Program is both an investment in Africa’s future innovators and a catalyst for the continent’s transformation,” he said. “As you embark on your global education, remember that your unique perspectives and skills are vital to unlocking Africa’s vast potential.”
The scholars shared inspiring journeys of resilience and ambition. Claire Nsaba, from Uganda, who will study Environmental Engineering at New York University Abu Dhabi, said mentorship under the program helped her persist after earlier rejections. Presley Chomba, from Kenya, heading to Harvard University for Renewable Energy Engineering, recounted sitting the SAT four times while saving for fees from his job as a bank teller. Sharon Nyambura Wanjiku, joining Matej Bel University in Slovakia to study Nursing, described her journey from an Elimu scholar to overcoming multiple rejections before securing a government scholarship.
Dr. Mwangi urged the scholars to view their studies abroad as more than an academic pursuit.
“See your time abroad as a profound global opportunity for personal growth. You are Equity Global Scholars, carrying with you the hopes of your families, communities, and country. Let accountability and integrity guide your legacy,” he told them.
Founded in 1998, the Equity Leadership Program identifies and nurtures top-performing students across the region, equipping them with leadership skills, mentorship, and global networks. The initiative has become a pipeline for Africa’s next generation of leaders, driving sustainable economic growth and social progress.
