Forty university students from Uganda will embark on a transformative six-month training and mentorship program at Equity Bank’s innovation hub. The intensive program will focus on app development, technology challenges, and idea exchange to boost productivity and creativity.
Following the initial training, the scholars will join 400 other Equity Leaders Program scholars from across the region in Kenya for further incubation training. This phase will expand their knowledge and provide invaluable insights into the tech industry.
The launch of the Equity Group Innovation Hub is pivotal, as Equity Group spearheads the transformative Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP) to digitize value chains for 100 million customers. The initiative requires a pool of skilled technical talent and innovators.
E&M Technology, a software development company founded and run by Equity Leader Program alumni, will train the scholars. They will participate in workshops, share ideas, collaborate on projects, and develop new solutions for socio-economic transformation.
The 40 scholars were selected from over 300 Equity Leaders Program (ELP) scholars from across various districts in Uganda with an Equity Bank presence. The ELP program selects the best students based on their Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
Speaking at the launch of the Equity Innovation Hub Uganda, Equity Bank’s Managing Director Anthony Kituuka highlighted the Bank’s commitment to developing human capital through the Equity Leaders Program and technology. “Equity has taken a step to equip the younger generation with a diversity of technology and innovative skills to solve future banking sector challenges in Uganda and Africa.”
He added, “In a world where technology is solving everyday complex life challenges and enabling development, individuals must stay ahead of the curve and continually enhance their skills to adapt to the rapidly changing global dynamics.”
The Equity Leaders Program (ELP) has benefited over 24,000 scholars across the East Africa region since its establishment in 1998. Its goal is to create a community of transformative leaders who work together across borders and various sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and social progress in Africa.