- Equity Group Holdings and AMREF International University signed a five‑year MoU to strengthen healthcare education, research, innovation and leadership across Africa.
- The collaboration will equip healthcare professionals with entrepreneurial skills to build sustainable businesses while addressing community health needs.
- Leaders emphasised that strengthening primary healthcare, where nearly 80% of Africans seek services, will transform health outcomes and promote equity in access.
Equity Group Holdings and AMREF International University (AMIU) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening healthcare education, research, innovation, leadership development and entrepreneurship to improve access to quality healthcare across Africa.
The partnership brings together the expertise and resources of Equity Bank Kenya, Equity Group Foundation (EGF), Equity Afya, Equity Life Assurance Kenya (ELAK) and AMIU to advance healthcare education, research, innovation and community health programmes.
The collaboration seeks to leverage the institutions’ complementary strengths to build stronger health systems, enhance healthcare delivery and promote sustainable solutions to the continent’s healthcare challenges.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Equity Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, who also serves as Executive Director of Equity Group Foundation, Dr James Mwangi, said the partnership underscores Equity’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems through strategic collaborations.
“Health cuts across every sector because good health drives productivity, and productivity creates prosperity. We have invested significantly in expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare, but we recognise that achieving meaningful impact requires working with specialised institutions,” said Dr Mwangi.
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He noted that partnering with AMIU would combine world-class expertise, research capabilities and decades of healthcare experience to create a stronger and more effective healthcare ecosystem.
AMREF International University Vice Chancellor, Prof Joachim Osur, said the collaboration addresses one of Africa’s most pressing healthcare challenges by helping healthcare professionals translate their technical expertise into sustainable businesses that serve community needs.
“The missing link has been transforming knowledge into monetised products through entrepreneurship. Many qualified healthcare professionals struggle to fully utilise their expertise because they rely solely on formal employment. Through this partnership, we will equip them with the entrepreneurial skills needed to build sustainable healthcare businesses while responding to the healthcare needs of our communities,” Prof Osur said.
He added that strengthening primary healthcare would have a transformative impact on health outcomes across the continent.
“Nearly 80 per cent of Africans seek healthcare at the primary healthcare level. If we transform primary healthcare, we will transform healthcare across the continent while promoting greater equity in access to health services. This partnership allows us to achieve that together,” he said.
Under the agreement, AMIU will provide expertise in health education, research, curriculum development, capacity building and healthcare innovation. The university will also facilitate internships, mentorship programmes, scientific collaboration and professional training opportunities.
Equity Bank Kenya will support healthcare infrastructure financing and experiential learning opportunities, while Equity Group Foundation will collaborate on health entrepreneurship, curriculum development, community health initiatives, climate and health programmes, environmental conservation and humanitarian research.
The partners said the initiative is expected to strengthen healthcare capacity, foster innovation and expand access to quality healthcare services across Africa by combining education, financial support and community-based interventions.
By Obegi Malack
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