The 10th edition of the Stanbic National Schools Championship dubbed “the battle of champions” has been launched.
This year’s edition will have 200 schools participate.
Mumba Kalifungwa, the Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank, underlined the commitment to transform the lives of women, youth, and farmers through corporate investment initiatives like the national schools championship.
“The National Schools Championship is not merely a contest, but has evolved into a catalyst for change that unlocks the tremendous potential of Uganda’s youth,” Kalifungwa said.
Running under the theme ‘Powering Innovation for Job Creation’, he said over the past decade, more than 500,000 students from 800 schools have participated in the NSC.
The initiative has led to the establishment of 187 student-led businesses, highlighting Stanbic's commitment to cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit among young people.
“As Stanbic, we take pride in supporting our youth as they realize their dreams, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to our nation’s socioeconomic development. Since its inception, Stanbic has invested over shs7 billion in this initiative. It also complements our Stanbic For Her program and Stanbic Business Incubator, which has positively impacted 27,000 women-led businesses where 10,000 of them have accessed financing beyond shs140 billion in just three years."
“This year, we have a prize pool of over shs 150 million to be shared among the winners, but beyond financial rewards, the National Schools Championship offers invaluable opportunities for learning, growth, networking, and skill development essential for success in the new curriculum assessment,” Kalifungwa said.
Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, commended Stanbic Bank for its ongoing investment in education and youth empowerment, recognizing the NSC as a significant contributor to the educational landscape of the nation.
Turyagenda expressed confidence that students benefiting from such mentorship would excel in their projects and thrive in life.
“As a Ministry, we are committed to fostering environments that prioritize both academic excellence and skill development and innovation. This preparation is crucial for our youth to adapt to the evolving job market, which is essential for our national progress,” she said.
Cathy Adengo, the Stanbic Bank Head of Sustainability, provided insights into the competitive selection process.
“Unlike last year where we received only 250 applications, this year we have received over 500 schools with brilliant proposals, but unfortunately only 200 projects will advance to the next stage. That includes training of trainers, a boot camp, and appraisal phases both well designed to transform ideas into viable projects.”
The grand finale is in about six months.
Adengo said the surge in interest also influenced the selection process by increasing the accepted ideas to 200 up from 150 last year.
She said that while the number of categories has been reduced from four to two, organizers have increased the slots for schools to include more from upcountry regions.
“Previously, we had four categories of participation; this year, we have just two: the Student Spark, for students with new ideas, and the Business Fellowship, for students with existing projects. This category also includes alumni of the initiative.”
“Together with our partners, we plan to surprise our winners with a fully paid vacation to one of the countries on the continent, so it's time to show the world the innovative ideas you bring to the table,” she said.
Albert Byamugisha, the Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Secretariat in Uganda, praised Stanbic's commitment to innovation and youth entrepreneurship as aligned with Goals 8, 12, and 13.
“Initiatives like the National Schools Championship not only align with global goals for quality education and economic growth but also empower the next generation to be change-makers in their communities,” Byamugisha said.
He encouraged participants to focus their innovations on addressing pressing global issues, from climate change to inequality.
“You have the potential to create solutions that will benefit not only your communities, but can also resonate on a global scale. It is commendable that the NSC promotes lifelong learning opportunities, ensuring individuals can adapt to changing circumstances and contribute effectively to society,” he said.