UoN alumni association to raise Sh1 billion for needy students

Kenya: The University of Nairobi Alumni Association (UONAA) plans to raise Sh1 billion to support bright needy students to pursue education at the university.

Speaking at a gala dinner to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Alumni Association at the university’s main campus on Monday, UoN Vice Chancellor Peter Mbithi noted that the institution had unlimited opportunities and industry partners to work with.

Prof Mbithi said the university would invite alumni and partners to help set up the University Scholarship Fund in order to continue attracting the best and brightest students from across the country.

“The institution will establish an endowment fund through the University of Nairobi Foundation and will be looking to our alumni and friends for financial and technical support. We hope to raise Sh10 billion for this fund in the next five years,” he said.

The VC said their target was to build hostels to accommodate an extra 10,000 students in the 2015-2016 financial year.

“Accommodation has been stretched to the limit. We are going to engage industry partners under the public-private-partnership arrangement to build new hostels and refurbish existing ones,” he said.

UONAA Chairperson Betty Gikonyo said plans were under way to build an endowment fund for student bursaries, scholarships and research grants. Dr Gikonyo added that they intended to develop assets such as student hostels, a talent academy and a research and innovation centre.

Equity Bank Chief Executive Officer James Mwangi, who was the chief guest, challenged the association and the university to partner with the private sector to realise faster development.