A total of 4,949 Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship scholars were equipped with leadership, life skills, and career readiness through the Equity Group Foundation (EGF) 17th Annual Education and Leadership Congress, held across four venues in Dadaab, Kakuma, and Nairobi from 10th to 14th August 2026.
The Congress brought together 1,996 Wings to Fly scholars currently in Form 3 and Form 4 and 2,953 Form 3 refugee scholars under the Elimu Scholarship Program.
Held under the theme, “Lead, Solve, Sustain: Turning Challenges into Solutions,” the 2026 Education and Leadership Development Congress was designed to inspire scholars to embrace creativity, think critically and develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges. The program equipped scholars with knowledge, tools and strategies to become ethical leaders and agents of positive change.
Through plenary sessions, the Congress explored value systems and ethical leadership, with a focus on promoting responsible and ethical behaviour among scholars. Participants also learned from the personal experiences and insights of successful leaders from government, academia, the nonprofit sector and industry.
During the Congress, scholars participated in mentorship, leadership development and life skills sessions designed to strengthen academic excellence, resilience, ethical leadership and community service. They also engaged with representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), gender champions, industry leaders, professionals and alumni of the two scholarship programs, who shared practical guidance on education pathways and career preparation.
Key sessions focused on helping scholars confidently navigate the national education system while strengthening mental resilience, self-awareness and identity. Scholars also explored how to thrive beyond displacement, embraced diversity and inclusion, and gained practical guidance on university readiness and campus life. Powerful testimonies from accomplished alumni brought the lessons to life, challenging participants to pursue excellence and step forward as values-driven leaders in their communities.
Speaking to the scholars, Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman and Managing Director & CEO of Equity Group Holdings Plc, said: “At Equity Group Foundation, we are truly excited to have supported this cohort of more than 60,000 scholars. Our goal is to give every scholar an equal opportunity to realise their potential, regardless of their circumstances. For 17 years, it has been a journey of great fulfilment, walking alongside scholars and witnessing their growth and transformation. As science and technology reshape the world, we are encouraging our scholars to embrace these opportunities, develop relevant skills and use technology not simply to consume, but to create solutions to the challenges facing their communities and the continent. An opportunity can open a door, but it is the choices you make, the skills you develop and the problems you choose to solve that ultimately determine what you do with that opportunity.”
He added: “Our responsibility is not only to prepare scholars to succeed, but to inspire them to lead with integrity, solve problems with courage and creativity, and sustain the impact they create. We want every scholar to leave their school, community and country better than they found them.”
The 2026 Education and Leadership Congress comes barely a week after 121 Equity Leaders Program (ELP) scholars from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) secured admission to leading global universities, each with comprehensive financial scholarships valued at Kshs. 2,791,962,093 (USD 21,643,117) for the 4-year duration of their studies.