The praise was led by Lira City Education Officer Canon Jane Obeny during appraisal visits to COTN Marani Honors High School, Comboni College and Lira Town College, which are representing the region in this year’s competition.
The appraisal phase involves assessing schools that have progressed beyond the entrepreneurship bootcamp to determine whether they meet the standards required to compete among the national finalists.
Obeny said the championship provides practical skills that complement Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum by exposing learners to entrepreneurship, financial literacy and problem-solving.
“The Stanbic National Schools Championship is exposing our learners to entrepreneurship, innovation and financial literacy at an early stage. These are practical skills that complement the government’s Competency-Based Curriculum and are essential in addressing youth unemployment,” Obeny said.
She added that the initiative is encouraging schools to embrace innovation and enabling learners to develop solutions to challenges affecting their communities.
The competition allows participating schools and students to compete for a share of Shs150 million in prizes, alongside a fully sponsored educational trip to South Africa, where Standard Bank Group, the parent company of Stanbic Bank Uganda, is headquartered.
Speaking during the appraisal exercise, Stanbic Bank Uganda Manager Corporate Social Investment Diana Ondoga said the programme reflects the bank’s commitment to preparing young people to contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.
“The National Schools Championship is our purpose in action. We believe that empowering young people with entrepreneurial and financial skills today creates a generation capable of driving Uganda’s future economic growth,” Ondoga said.
She said the initiative helps learners develop practical solutions to real-life challenges while nurturing innovation, leadership and resilience.
Ondoga explained that the championship is aligned with Stanbic Bank’s strategic focus areas, including financial inclusion, enterprise development, infrastructure development and financing, climate finance and sustainability, and corporate social investment.
She added that this year’s edition is significant as Stanbic Bank Uganda celebrates 35 years of contributing to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation under the Standard Bank Group.
Since its launch in 2016, the Stanbic National Schools Championship has grown into one of Uganda’s leading youth empowerment programmes, reaching more than 600,000 students from secondary and vocational institutions across the country.
The programme challenges learners to develop business ideas aimed at solving community problems while equipping them with skills in entrepreneurship, financial management, leadership and critical thinking.
Education stakeholders say the championship has strengthened partnerships between schools, government and the private sector by bridging the gap between classroom learning and practical skills needed in the economy.
As appraisal visits continue across the country, participating schools are competing for opportunities to join the national finals, where young innovators will showcase ideas aimed at creating jobs and transforming communities.
For Stanbic Bank Uganda, the championship remains a long-term investment in developing a generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders capable of driving sustainable economic growth.