Equity Bank has commissioned 72 top-performing secondary school graduates into the sixth cohort of its Equity Leaders Programme, offering them paid internships, leadership training and support to pursue university education.

The cohort comprises 36 young women and 36 young men from across Rwanda’s provinces. They were commissioned at a ceremony in Kigali on Friday, October 23.

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Loyce K. Bamwine, Director of Social Impact Investments at Equity, said the programme aims to unlock young people’s potential, expand educational opportunities and nurture future leaders.

She said the latest cohort brings the total number of scholars supported by the programme in Rwanda to 318 across six cohorts.

"Education is not simply about academic excellence. It is about unlocking potential, expanding opportunity, nurturing leadership, and empowering young people to become agents of positive change,” Bamwine said.

The programme selects high-achieving students based on their national examination results and prepares them for university studies and future leadership roles through mentorship, professional exposure and practical experience.

Among the beneficiaries is Maurice Gentil Niyonzima, who scored 96 out of 100 in his national examinations and was selected to represent Gakenke District.

Niyonzima said the programme had changed his perspective on leadership and opened up opportunities, including support with university applications and access to experienced professionals.

"Being a leader is not simply about holding a title; it must be reflected in one’s actions,” he said, recalling a lesson from the induction programme.

He added that he and fellow scholars had begun developing a project aimed at helping other young people access similar opportunities.

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Another beneficiary, Anne de Jerusalem Shimwa, who studied Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology (MCB) at a secondary school in Musanze District, said the programme had boosted her confidence and reinforced values she hopes to apply in her future career as a medical doctor.

Before joining the programme, she viewed leadership mainly as public speaking. The training, she said, taught her that leadership also involves stepping outside one’s comfort zone, setting goals and working towards them. She added that the communication and leadership skills acquired would be useful regardless of the career she eventually pursues.

Shimwa encouraged young people to overcome fear, pursue their ambitions and take advantage of available opportunities.

Training and university opportunities

The scholars completed a 13-day induction programme from October 11 to 23, featuring more than 70 sessions facilitated by over 40 trainers.

The sessions covered leadership and ethics, banking operations, risk management, digital financial services, innovation, financial literacy, health and well-being, and workplace readiness.

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Equity leaders, government ministry representatives and partners, including Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, eFiche, Bridge2Rwanda and the Mastercard Foundation, facilitated the training.

The scholars also visited Equity’s head office and the Equity Group Foundation Rwanda office, took part in an innovation challenge, showcased their talents and made the programme’s leadership pledge.

Following the commissioning, they will begin paid internships at Equity branches as they prepare for university studies in Rwanda and abroad. The placements are intended to provide practical workplace experience alongside their academic and leadership development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Claudette Irere, Minister of State for Education, said preparing young people for work and leadership required collaboration between government, educational institutions and the private sector.

"Through the Equity Leaders Program, Equity Group is investing in the future leaders of Rwanda and Africa, giving young people not only academic knowledge, but practical skills, exposure and a sense of responsibility toward their communities,” she said.

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Irere urged the scholars to approach their internships with discipline and integrity, noting that consistent effort in everyday responsibilities helps build strong leadership. She also encouraged them to look after their physical and mental well-being, seek support when needed and use their education to address challenges in their communities.

Hannington Namara, Managing Director of Equity, said the programme reflected the institution’s belief in young people’s potential to contribute to national development.

"Every one of these 72 young people represents a district, a family and a dream. Today, they move from potential to purpose,” he said.

Namara added that Equity viewed the scholars not only as beneficiaries but also as future leaders expected to serve their communities and the country.

Five years of expanding university access and developing young leaders

Equity says the programme has supported 318 scholars across six cohorts since its launch in Rwanda in November 2021.

Of these, 113 have secured full scholarships, with 117 scholarship awards enabling students to study at 52 universities in 20 countries across four continents.

Previous cohorts include scholars pursuing degrees in medicine, law, engineering, pharmacy, finance, computer science, economics and entrepreneurship. Their institutions include the University of Rwanda, African Leadership University and the University of Global Health Equity.

According to Equity, the number of global scholarship awards rose from six in 2022 to 37 in 2026.

The latest cohort comes ahead of the programme’s fifth anniversary in Rwanda in November 2026. Through paid internships, mentorship, coaching and university counselling, the initiative aims to widen access to higher education and prepare young people to contribute to Rwanda’s social and economic development.

Niyonzima said the experience had inspired him to use the knowledge and networks gained through the programme to help other young people access similar opportunities.

He urged students seeking to join future cohorts to work hard and perform well academically, adding that he was grateful for the opportunity and determined not to disappoint those who had invested in him.