Bank of Kigali Plc has renewed its agreement with UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the sponsorship of the Chevening Scholarship Programme in Rwanda.

The agreement was signed on September 2, by Dr. Diane Karusisi, CEO of Bank of Kigali and Omar Daair, UK High Commissioner to Rwanda.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Karusisi said that the agreement will run for a period of three years and that every year BK will contribute £36,000 to sponsor one Rwandan student.

"We are pleased to partner with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office to contribute to the professional development and capacity building of future Rwandan leaders through the Chevening Scholarships Programme in Rwanda,” said Dr. Karusisi.

"Education is one of Bank of Kigali’s Corporate Social Responsibility key pillars and we believe that through this programme, the scholarship recipients will gain the knowledge and skills that will empower them to make a positive impact in our country,” she added.

The Chevening Scholarship is the United Kingdom (UK) government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations.

It offers awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study for a one-year master’s degree in any accredited university in the UK.

According to Daair, the programme has been awarding scholarships to Rwandans since 1999 and has supported different Rwandan leaders on their education journeys.

He revealed that for the forthcoming scholarships, the recipients will enrol in different programs including public health, finance, food security, human rights as well as education, adding that they will help Rwanda on its very ambitious development pathway.

"The students will be studying for one year and then come back and use their skills to grow the country’s economy, create jobs and offer other services,” he said.  

Daair said that the programme has also supported around 50 thousand people across the world and around 49 Rwandans in the last five years.

"We take a lead in selecting the best students in every country who are applying for programmes that we think will help their countries move forward when they come back,” he said.

He added that it is essential to select students who have great potential for themselves and their countries, adding that they assess that through the long application form they fill as well as the interviews they take part in when they are shortlisted.

The Chevening Rwanda Scholarships will start in the UK academic year of 2021/22 and will continue for a three-year period.