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

  • 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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  • Abia Katimbo

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Land and Water Systems Year: 2017 Country: Uganda Abia is very passionate about helping communities through the provision of solutions using his engineering and interpersonal skills. After completing his undergraduate degree, Abia was recruited as a research assistant at Makerere University to work at Smallholder Fortunes &

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  • Ransford Danny Kofi Buah

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of Sustainable Forest Management Year: 2017 Country: Ghana Because of the financial hardships he experienced, Kofi has developed a concern for those who live in deprived communities and do not have the privilege of education. He envisages himself as a “philanthropist to bring smiles on the faces of poor underprivileged people

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  • Adekunle James Omoboye

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food Science Year: 2018 Country: Nigeria Excellence, Mentorship, Determination, Dexterity and Integrity are the major key words suitable to describe the personality of James. He is a First Class Graduate from Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry.

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  • Oloruntobi Muniru

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of Sustainable Forest Management Year: 2018 Country: Nigeria Tobi is very passionate about ensuring sustainable development in Africa through good forest management. During her undergraduate education, she focused on encouraging indigenous people (especially youth) to participate in managing and rejuvenating existing forests, practice agroforestry, and climate-smart agriculture through her involvement with

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  • Samuel Makinde

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Land and Water Systems Year: 2018 Country: Nigeria From a young age, Samuel developed a high interest in reading, teaching and competition. He graduated with First Class with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Akure in Nigeria (FUTA). Samuel’s passion for learning

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  • Olatunbosun Ayetan

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Land and Water Systems Year: 2018 Country: Nigeria Bosun is described by his supervisors as having a great drive for success as well as being exceptionally intelligent, hardworking, innovative and capable of analytical reasoning. He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology, in Crop, Soil and Pest

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  • Samuel Arawu

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Food Science Year: 2018 Country: Nigeria Passionate, excellent, determined, ambitious and honest, are just a few words that can be used to describe Arawu. Having grown up in Nigeria, he has witnessed the increasing rate of diabetes cancer and obesity. Arawu’s ultimate goal is to help the

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