The ManicaPost
Lawrence Lifa Post Correspondent
FIVE Africa University first year students were last week awarded scholarships under the Stanbic-Africa University scholarship programme.
Natasha Masenyama, Nyasha Matswayi, Lindiwe Sibanda, Michelle Murwisi and Fortune Masawi also received laptops.
The five were identified through a national selection process that was done by a six-member selection committee comprised of AU and Stanbic Bank representatives.
The five recipients were drawn from Manicaland, Masvingo, Harare, Bulawayo and Mashonaland East provinces.
Speaking during a hand-over ceremony of the laptops and scholarships at Africa University last week, Vice-Chancellor Professor Munashe Furusa applauded Stanbic Bank for the partnership.
“We acknowledge and appreciate our partnership with Stanbic Bank. As business partners, we have a long standing relationship. We recently decided to strengthen our partnership through educating Africa’s future leaders,” said Prof Furusa.
“This initiative clearly demonstrates that African businesses are seriously taking their pivotal role in educating future leaders.
“The initiative provides an opportunity for the brilliant minds in our communities to acquire education, especially the less fortunate ones,” said Prof Furusa.
Stanbic Bank Mutare branch manager, Mr Lincoln Mhlanga, said the initiative is part of their corporate social responsibility, adding that they are mandated to ensure Africa’s growth.
“We are mandated to come up with sustainable solutions that contribute towards the realisation of Africa’s growth, not only in business and serving our customers, but even in social aspects of life,” said Mhlanga.
“We are hoping to accommodate more students on the scholarship programme in future,” he said.
The students expressed gratitude for the full board scholarships which covers food, accommodation and technology fees.
Manicaland student, Nyasha Matswayi, will be studying for a degree in Business Studies Honours in Management, while Natasha Masenyama (Harare Metropolitan) will study for an Accounting degree.
Fortunate Masawi (Masvingo), Lindiwe Sibanda (Bulawayo Metropolitan) and Michelle Murwisi (Mashonaland East) will be studying for a Computer Science degree, a Medical Laboratory Sciences degree and an Accounting degree respectively.
