4,949 Equity Scholars Gain Leadership, Life Skills and Career Readiness

Equity Group Foundation brings together Wings to Fly and Elimu scholars for the 17th Annual Education and Leadership Congress.

A total of 4,949 Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship scholars have gained leadership, life skills and career-readiness skills through the Equity Group Foundation’s 17th Annual Education and Leadership Congress.

Held from August 10 to 14, 2026, the Congress took place across four venues in Dadaab, Kakuma and Nairobi. It brought together 1,996 Wings to Fly scholars in Form 3 and Form 4 and 2,953 Form 3 refugee scholars under the Elimu Scholarship Programme.

The Congress was held under the theme, “Lead, Solve, Sustain: Turning Challenges into Solutions.” The programme challenged scholars to think critically, embrace creativity and develop practical solutions to challenges facing their communities.

Developing future leaders

The programme placed leadership, academic excellence and personal development at the centre of the scholars’ experience.

Through plenary sessions, mentorship and life-skills activities, the scholars explored ethical leadership, resilience, critical thinking and community service.

They also interacted with leaders and professionals from government, academia, industry and the nonprofit sector. These sessions gave the students practical insights into leadership and the changing world of work.

Representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) also provided guidance on education pathways and career preparation.

Preparing students for university and careers

The Congress also focused on helping scholars prepare for life after secondary school.

Sessions covered university readiness, campus life, self-awareness, identity, diversity and inclusion. The programme also addressed mental resilience and helped students develop skills to navigate different environments.

For refugee scholars from Dadaab and Kakuma, the sessions provided additional guidance on thriving beyond displacement.

Meanwhile, scholarship alumni shared their experiences with the students. Their testimonies highlighted the opportunities and challenges that come with higher education and career development.

The alumni encouraged the scholars to pursue excellence while using their education to serve their communities.

4,949 Equity Scholars Gain Leadership, Life Skills and Career Readiness

Technology and problem-solving take centre stage

Technology also featured prominently during the Congress.

Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman and Equity Group Holdings Managing Director and CEO Dr James Mwangi challenged the scholars to look at technology as a tool for creating solutions rather than simply consuming information.

“As science and technology reshape the world, we are encouraging our scholars to embrace these opportunities, develop relevant skills and use technology not simply to consume, but to create solutions to the challenges facing their communities and the continent,” he said.

Dr Mwangi said the Foundation’s role goes beyond helping students achieve academic and professional success.

“Our responsibility is not only to prepare scholars to succeed, but to inspire them to lead with integrity, solve problems with courage and creativity, and sustain the impact they create. We want every scholar to leave their school, community and country better than they found them.”

He also urged the scholars to recognize that financial support is only the beginning of their journey.

“An opportunity can open a door, but it is the choices you make, the skills you develop and the problems you choose to solve that ultimately determine what you do with that opportunity.”

A scholarship programme reaching thousands

The Congress builds on the wider impact of the Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship programmes.

Equity Group Foundation says 60,009 young people have benefited from the two programmes, which provide comprehensive secondary school scholarships and mentorship support.

The programmes aim to support academically promising students from financially challenged backgrounds while giving them opportunities to develop leadership and other life skills.

The Foundation’s approach combines financial assistance with mentorship and personal development. This model seeks to prepare students for both academic progression and their future roles in society.

ELP scholars secure global university opportunities

The 2026 Education and Leadership Congress also comes shortly after a major milestone for the Equity Leaders Program.

A total of 121 ELP scholars from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently secured admission to leading global universities. The scholars received comprehensive financial scholarships valued at KSh2.79 billion over four years.

The achievement highlights the Foundation’s broader focus on creating education pathways that extend beyond secondary school.

Beyond the Wings to Fly and Elimu programmes, the Equity Leaders Program has supported thousands of university scholars across the region.

Building skills for a changing world

For the 4,949 scholars who attended this year’s Congress, the programme provided an opportunity to look beyond academic performance and consider the wider impact of their education.

The focus on leadership, technology, resilience and problem-solving reflects the changing demands facing young people as they prepare for university, employment and entrepreneurship.

By combining scholarships with mentorship and leadership development, Equity Group Foundation is seeking to prepare a generation of young people who can use their education and skills to address challenges in their communities.

The message from the Congress was therefore clear: access to education creates an opportunity, but leadership, creativity and a commitment to solving problems can determine the impact that opportunity creates.

Mere details on Equity Group Foundation can be found here