Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni

Undergraduates

  • Enia Sitole

    Faculty: Arts Program: Political Science Year: 2017 Country: Mozambique Coming from a financially difficult background, Enia is a strongminded young woman, determined to overcome…

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  • Fitia Ranaivo-Harisoa

    Faculty: Arts Program: International Relations Year: 2018 Country: Madagascar As a proud feminist, Fitia believes in equality, equity, and access to education for all.…

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  • Cecilia Atieno

    Faculty: Science Program: Food, Nutrition and Health Year: 2018 Country: Kenya Born and raised in Kenya but having studied in Ghana, Cecilia tackled each…

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  • Keitumetse Malatsi

    Faculty: Arts Program: English Literature Year: 2017 Country: South Africa At her high school at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), Keitu emerged…

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  • Valentine Gituti Weirungu

    Faculty: Arts Program: Theatre Studies Year: 2018 Country: Kenya Gituti is describe as being mature, dependable with a high level of integrity. She is…

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  • Fainess Mwakisimba

    Faculty: Science Program: Biochemistry Year: 2017 Country: Tanzania Growing up in Tanzania in a strong traditional community, and recently graduated from a very multi-cultural…

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  • Ahmed Faiz Hassan Hussein

    Faculty: Arts Program: International Relations Year: 2024 Country: Kenya Growing up in Nairobi, Ahmed stepped out of his comfort zone and seized a range…

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  • Sabeeha Manji

    Faculty: Arts Program: Political Science Year: 2017 Country: Kenya Sabeeha is described as a “multi-dimensional and all-rounded student who performs a multiplicity of tasks…

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  • Bahati Mwambene

    Faculty: Arts Program: International Relations Year: 2024 Country: Tanzania Bahati is described as a unique individual amongst her peers who continues to strive for…

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  • Brandon Bwanakocha

    Faculty: Applied Science Program: Electrical Engineering Year: 2017 Country: Zimbabwe Referring to himself as the “tenacious and unstoppable African honey badger” when reflecting on…

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  • Moses Kirathe

    Faculty: Sauder School of Business Program: Master of Food and Resource Economics Year: 2017 Country: Kenya At his school at St. Mary’s Secondary School,…

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  • Kumbirai (Trish) Kujeke

    Faculty: Science Program: Global Public Health and Nutrition Year: 2017 Country: Zimbabwe Kumbirai, or Trish as she is fondly called, is described as a…

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Graduates

  • Ebere Mercy Okafor

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management Year: 2018 Country: Nigeria Mercy is a research enthusiast and describes herself as being diligent, honest, and easy going. She recently graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Nigeria with a degree in Forestry and Wood Technology. During her final year, she had…

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  • Espoir Tuyisenge

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food and Resource Economics Year: 2018 Country: Rwanda Espoir is a recent graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Food Industry Management and a minor in Agribusiness and Environmental Sustainability. Having grown up in an area surrounded with malnutrition, food shortages and poverty, he observed…

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  • Vivian Onwujiobi

    Faculty: Sauder School of Business Program: Master of Business Administration Year: 2017 Country: Nigeria After changing career paths from a doctor to a Software Developer, Vivian has dedicated herself to supporting women by providing them with software solutions, free consultations and networking opportunities. During the most recent Nigerian elections, Vivian volunteered to join an independent…

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  • Josephine Sintim-Poku

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of Sustainable Forest Management Year: 2016 Country: Ghana Josephine was determined to study as school was the one place she found the most happiness and a sense of belonging. Josephine was admitted into one of Ghana’s top universities, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and completed a Bachelor of…

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  • Oladimeji John Adewusi

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food Science Year: 2016 Country: Nigeria Oladimeji has always had a passion for learning and took his academic work very seriously.  Throughout his teenage years in high school in Nigeria, Oladimeji was particularly strong in organic chemistry and biology.  Oladimeji took his love for teaching and science…

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  • Fulu Koali

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food and Resource Economics Year: 2017 Country: Lesotho Fulu was a strong innovator throughout his high school years and had a knack for applying academic theories to complex problems. Fulu scored particularly well in Science and Mathematics which led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in…

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  • Adebusola Deborah Oyenuga

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food and Resource Economics Year: 2017 Country: Nigeria Growing up in an immediate family of five in the remote and quiet town of Ilaro, Nigeria, Debbie learned the virtues of humanitarianism and leadership from her parents. These virtues ignited a desire to be in a role that…

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  • Bamidele Folorusho Oni

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of International Forestry Year: 2017 Country: Nigeria Bamidele is a “tireless teacher and generous with his kindness, working hard to engender a sense of pragmatic stewardship in rural peoples.” After founding an NGO in 2011, Bamidele became a state coordinator for the Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria and a…

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  • Grace Quandahor

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of International Forestry Year: 2016 Country: Ghana From a young age, Grace was known for planting trees around her home. She developed a passion for environmental issues because the local river and forest area in her village was being depleted to make way for agriculture development. Her desire to see the…

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  • Olivier Ntwali

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food and Resource Economics Year: 2017 Country: Rwanda Olivier comes from a small family farm in the Gatsibo district in Rwanda. Olivier has always been passionate about community development and making positive changes in his society. During his studies at university, Olivier co-founded the National University of…

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  • Monicah Namu

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food Science Year: 2017 Country: Kenya Monicah’s determination to conquer the world can be proven by her continuous academic excellence as an Equity Group Foundation Scholar in Kenya. The most important thing to her is changing the world and for Africa to become a better place for…

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  • Nkem Melaugha

    Faculty: Sauder School of Business Program: Master of Business Administration Year: 2017 Country: Nigeria I am a dedicated individual from a region reliant on subsistence agriculture and natural resources. This background sparked my interest in agriculture and environmental sustainability. Others would describe me as goal-oriented, selfless, and passionate about environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community…

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