Nigerian philanthropist offers scholarships to Makerere students

Tony Elumelu, a Nigerian philanthropist and Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), on Wednesday excited Makerere University students when he announced that a total of 129 students will benefit from Tony Elumelu Foundation  (TEF) entrepreneurship scholarships this year.

He made the statement while giving a lecture to students on: “Africapitalism and Entrepreneurship”, at Makerere University main hall.

“So far, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has offered 360 scholarships in entrepreneurship programs to Makerere University students”, said Elumelu.

He said this year’s scholarships are aimed at empowering young Ugandans in entrepreneurship skills, especially in the area of Agriculture.

He called upon students to embrace entrepreneurship skills to grow their businesses, however small they may be.

“Getting rich requires great ideas of what you want to do. Ideas are more important than money”, he added.

Grace Ekulu, one of the beneficiaries to Tony Elumelu Foundation scholarships, said she has been able to rare 800 pigs on her small farm, where she employs local youth.

“All the 800 pigs were booked by Operation Wealth Creation”, she said.

In his remarks, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe said Africans should change mindset from depending on foreign donation handouts, to becoming self-reliant.

“What we need in Africa is economic emancipation”.

He hailed Elumelu, for spearheading philanthropist gestures in Africa.

Jackie Tumuhairwe, the Head Marketing, and Corporate Communications at UBA Uganda, said currently, UBA offers fuel cards for all government agencies.

She said the bank is working on an e-Voucher project with the Ministry of Agriculture and other e-Projects with URA.

“Beyond these, Tony will also meet President Museveni to “present the case of the people who have benefited from his TEF Entrepreneurship program," she said.

By Ambrose Gahene