The University of Nairobi (UoN) alumni association has organised an inaugural walk to take place on May 4, 2024 at the Chancellor’s Court, Main Campus, Nairobi.
The walk, dubbed ‘Walk for a Brighter Future’, aims to raise funds for the alumni scholarship fund, which is used to support needy students in the institution.
Speaking during a media a briefing at the university’s main campus, the association chairperson Isaac Awuondo said this was one of several strategies they were implementing to raise funds for scholarships.
Awuondo added that a significant portion of the more than 40,000 students in UoN’s various campuses require financial support.
“For the past 20 years, we have been sponsoring about 150 students every year for the duration of their studies. However, we are looking to exponentially increase that number to about 1000 with scholarships worth Ksh50 million every year,” he said.
Faculty of Engineering Dean Prof Ayub Gitau, who spoke on behalf of Vice Chancellor (VC) Stephen Kiama, emphasized the significance of such initiatives in the institutions of higher learning and the necessity of alumni creating a community to support needy learners.
Gitau further said that each year the university gets about 5,000 applications for the scholarship. However, it is only able to cater for a very small percentage of the number.
“This coupled with diminishing allocations from the exchequer puts a strain on the institution,” Gitau said.
The association chairperson hailed the support the association has got from various corporate partners for the upcoming walk.
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By Brian Ndigo
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