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- The foundation has supported scientific and technical education in Uganda for over 50 years.
- 80 beneficiaries of the Madhvani foundation scholarship graduate at Makerere.
- More scholarships to be awarded for the 2014/2015 academic year
80 students with Madhvani Foundation Scholarships have graduated with honors degrees from Makerere University at the recently concluded graduation ceremony; the students are part of a group of over 250 students who were awarded scholarships between 2008 and 2010 worth over 1.6 Billion Shillings.
Commenting on the students successful completion of their courses The Chairman Madhvani Foundation Scholarship Committee Mr. Anthony Butele said “The only way to empower the nation’s youth is through education, training and imparting them with skills which will help them not only look for jobs but to create employment, we therefore don’t stop at just giving scholarships but also run a mentorship and further training programme for our beneficiaries through the Alumni Association, a group that aims to provide a common platform and networking opportunities to former beneficiaries”.
He continued “seeing the students graduate is very satisfying and important for us because it confirms the Ugandan students are serious about their education and that the funds are being well spent, this is a very positive sign for the future of the country. The Foundation is proud to be playing a small but meaningful part in the development of our nation”.
Speaking after the graduation ceremony one of the beneficiaries Nantale Cissy who graduated with a Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery said she was very grateful to the Foundation for paying for her studies which enabled her complete her course “at the time I sat the interviews I was at a dead-end none of my friends or relatives was able to support me financially and I was contemplating dropping out, the foundation gave me a new lease of life and I was able to focus on my books, today I am on the verge of achieving my dream of becoming a gynaecologist, none of this would have been possible without the Foundation”.
Since the Foundation scholarship scheme was revived in 2003-2004 academic year over 1,000 students have been awarded university scholarships worth over 3.0 Billion shillings. SK Iyengar the secretary to the Foundation encouraged gifted but financially challenged students to apply for scholarships in the 2014-2015 academic year on the foundation website when the application period opens at the end of March 2014. “Potential undergraduate candidates must have completed the first year of University with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA of not less than 2.2 with no retakes he pointed out while Post graduate students should have a minimum of a degree and work experience in the related field.
Mr. Butele concluded by calling upon institutions to provide practical training and skills development alongside theoretical teachings to enable their students translate what they are taught into the real world.