HiPipo Money

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• The foundation has supported scientific and technical education in Uganda for over 50 years.
• 80 beneficiaries of the Madhvani foundation scholarship graduate at Makerere.
• More scholarships to be awarded for the 2014/2015 academic year

80 students with Madhvani Foundation Scholarships have graduated with honors degrees from Makerere University  at the recently concluded  graduation ceremony; the students are part of a group of over 250 students who were awarded scholarships between 2008 and 2010 worth over 1.6 Billion Shillings. 

Commenting on the students successful completion of their courses The Chairman Madhvani Foundation Scholarship Committee Mr. Anthony Butele said “The only way to empower the nation’s youth is through education, training and imparting them with skills which will help them not only look for jobs but to create employment, we therefore don’t  stop at just giving scholarships but also run a mentorship and further training programme for our beneficiaries through the Alumni Association, a group that aims to provide a common platform and networking opportunities to former beneficiaries”.

He continued “seeing the students graduate is very satisfying and important for us because it confirms the Ugandan students are serious about their education and that the funds are being well spent, this is a very positive sign for the future of the country. The Foundation is proud to be playing a small but meaningful part in the development of our nation”.

Speaking after the graduation ceremony one of the beneficiaries Nantale Cissy who graduated with a Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery said she was very grateful to the Foundation for paying for her studies which enabled her complete her course “at the time I sat the interviews I was at a dead-end none of my friends or relatives was able to support me financially and I was contemplating dropping out, the foundation gave me a new lease of life and I was able to focus on my books, today I am on the verge of achieving my dream of becoming a  gynaecologist, none of this would have been possible without the Foundation”.

Since the Foundation scholarship scheme was revived in 2003-2004 academic year over 1,000 students have been awarded university scholarships worth over 3.0 Billion shillings. SK Iyengar the secretary to the Foundation encouraged gifted but financially challenged students to apply for scholarships in the 2014-2015 academic year on the foundation website when the application period opens at the end of March 2014. “Potential undergraduate candidates must have completed the first year of University with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA of not less than 2.2 with no retakes he pointed out while Post graduate students should have a minimum of a degree and work experience in the related field.

Mr. Butele concluded by calling upon institutions to provide practical training and skills development alongside theoretical teachings to enable their students translate what they are taught into the real world.

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Francine Mazala from Zambia wins essay prize and Lloyd Ossei Baffour from Ghana wins poster prize in the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards

In response to a growing need to popularise science and to create excitement about space technology in young people, MultiChoice and Eutelsat have been collaborating over three years on a unique pan- African student competition called the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards.

In Accra, Ghana, last night, the broadcasting industry and high-profile government members convened at the Golden Tulip Hotel for the announcement of the final winners of this year’s edition. Stakeholders unanimously expressed their commitment to investing in the future of education and to instilling a passion for technology and the sciences in the younger generation.

In her address, the Minister of Education, the Honourable Nana Opoku-Agyeman applauded the organisers for generating awareness of the importance of education in science and technology: “With the fast-changing digital landscape, we have an obligation to Africa’s youth to ensure that they are empowered to adapt and to use their educational system to make meaningful change to their country and the continent’s development agenda. The government recognises that it cannot single handedly tackle the challenges faced by the sector and that public-private partnerships can also accelerate progress.”

Of 1000 entries from 19 countries, this year’s DStv Eutelsat Star Awards winner Francine Mazala (Zambia) stood out as the winner of the essay category and has won a trip to Paris and onwards to a launch site to witness a rocket launch into space and runner up in the essay category was Eshlin Vedan (South Africa) who wins a trip for two to visit MultiChoice facilities and the South African Space Agency near Johannesburg, South Africa. In the poster category, first place is Lloyd Ossei Baffour (Ghana) who will visit Eutelsat in Paris and runner up in the same category is Angel Gabriella (Uganda).  The four winning schools attended by the overall award winners and runners-up respectively were also rewarded with a DStv installation, including dish, television, state-of-the-art PVR decoder and free access to the DStv Education Bouquet.

The DStv Eutelsat Star Awards comprises national and international adjudication. The first assessment of entries is at country level with a panel of local judges selecting  country winners and runners-up who go through a round of preliminary judging which culminates in the selection of the final winners.

A regional panel selects the top four entries. This year the panel was chaired by the inspirational European Space Agency astronaut, Paolo Nespoli, assisted by a panel of industry experts who commended the standard of the competition. “Congratulations to the winners for their understanding of Africa’s challenges and their knowledge of how satellite technology can change the course of development on the continent. Francine’s impeccable command of the language and technical ability was impressive. ”

Nespoli also urged young people to be tenacious in their quest for success. “Your future is in your hands to dream big and to achieve the impossible. Follow your dreams with determination and never give up – because dreams do come true. At one point going to space looked unachievable but here I am today living my purpose and living my dream as an astronaut with two flights into space as one of my life’s biggest achievements.”

Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa added his congratulatory message to the occasion. “These Awards have afforded young people the opportunity to not only grow their confidence levels but to represent the continent on the global stage. MultiChoice Africa is encouraged every year by the success of these awards to plough more resources into this initiative as it becomes more evident that the future and development of this continent lies in the hands of young people.”

Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat’s Chairman and CEO highlighted the growing value of space for technological advancement, social inclusion and economic growth and encouraged young people to follow their dreams. “The quality of entrants was once again a strong sign that space and satellite communications resonate significantly in the hearts and minds of the younger generation. We are immensely proud to partner with MultiChoice on this initiative and to have the opportunity to meet some of Africa’s future great minds.”

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At a breakfast today, Women stakeholders including national level women’s business associations; business women’s groups (Urban and Rural); individual women business entrepreneurs and key Government institutions deliberate on modalities of working together to enhance their participation in the East African Integration Process at Kampala Sheraton Hotel.                                                                                                                     Organized by TradeMark East Africa in partnership with the iCON Enterprise Foundation (formerly iCON Women & Young People’s Leadership Academy), the East African Business Council and the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP), the meeting themed “Enhancing Participation and Amplifying Voices of Uganda Women in Business and Trade in the East African Integration Process” is graced by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde.

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) an organisation funded by a range of development agencies with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through trade, established a regional women in business platform(East African Women in Business Platform) to position and catalyse the participation of women in EAC integration process. The platform’s key strategies are to: increase effective participation of women in business in EAC integration processes; improve economic contribution of women in business in EAC Partner States and; increase progression of women-owned enterprises in EAC from informal to formal status.

Allen Asiimwe, Director Trade Mark East Africa-Uganda, said “The Platform currently hosted by the East African Business Council (EABC) has member organisations at the national level who together with other women associations address issues with different levels of success, however the capacity of these organisations to adequately research, articulate and advocate on key policy issues affecting their engagement in EAC regional trade remains limited. This is why the breakfast meeting today is important to make aware and address the need to deepen the interventions at national level, develop a collective and coordinated approach and amplify Ugandan women’s voices in the EAC regional integration particularly on business and trade issues”.

“Most of the women in this country are in services which constitute over 50 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but face challenges especially when trading across the borders to include: travel security risks, poor infrastructure that increases costs of transporting goods across borders, discrimination and harassment by border officials, non/low level participation in policy development and implementation, lack of market information, inadequate access to finance and credit facilities, lack of access to currency exchange facilities, among others” Hon Amelia Kyambadde reiterated. “I am especially grateful for this timely forum and thank the organisers and the women groups altogether that are ensuring the Ugandan woman entrepreneur/trader is educated and takes advantage of the EAC integration agenda as per the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC under Articles 121 and 122 and the 4th EAC Development Strategy (2011-2016) that outline the important role that women of East Africa play in the economic, social and political development of the region and the need for women to be accorded high priority as partners in the regional integration process”.she added. 

Deborah Kaddu Serwadda, Regional Director ICON enterprise foundation encouraged all stakeholders to take advantage of this meeting as an initial step to interact with key trade policy makers in the region, ask questions, have their voices heard as well as learn about their right as women traders across borders. “ I thank you TradeMark East Africa; iCON Enterprise Foundation; East African Business Council; and East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP).