NEWS:

30 Jun, 2016


NBS Chief Operating Officer (fourth from left) presenting a cheque to the awardees
NBS Bank on Monday 27th June 2016 awarded scholarships worth MK1,860 000 to four LUANAR students as one way of fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities.

Speaking during the scholarship award presentation ceremony, NBS Chief Operating Officer, Mr Martin Siwu said his institution decided to support the students after hearing cases where a number of students were withdrawing from their studies on financial grounds.

“When we were told of the drop out statistics by LUANAR management, we felt obliged to participate in rescuing the situation by sponsoring needy students, starting with fourth year. This sponsorship is scheduled to run for a number of years and we believe that when we sponsor a student, we have invested in the future of our mother Malawi. We know that we have given such needy student an equal chance to succeed in life,” said Mr Siwu.

He said NBS strongly believe that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty saying through knowledge acquisition better doors automatically opens up either through employment or entrepreneurship.

“We therefore endeavor to support education to the best or our ability. In addition to the sponsorship program we are launching today, let me remind you that we are the only ones that have a service centre right here at LUANAR. The idea is to bring banking services closer to the students in order to save them time for studies and we are planning on expanding our business as we realize the growing needs of this institution,” said Mr Siwu.

Mr Siwu further urged the students to work hard in order to achieve their goals.

“To all students, I urge you to aim high because your future and the future of this country is dependent on what you achieve today,” he said.

In his remarks, LUANAR Director of Students Affairs, Dr Martin Gulule thanked NBS bank for this wonderful contribution to LUANAR saying the scholarship will go a long way to support the awarded students who were struggling financially.

Dr Gulule urged the students to work hard in their studies as one way of re-paying the bank.

He further urged other institutions and companies to emulate from what NBS has done to support the needy students as there are still more students who needs financial support.

One of the recipients, Evance Mathawitsa, a fourth year student studying BSc Agriculture General thanked NBS for the scholarship saying it will assist him and the other awardees to complete their studies without hassles.

He said previously he has been struggling to pay tuition fees since his single mother could not afford to pay fees as well as provide basic needs.

All the four awardees were fourth year students and there is hope that the scholarship will trickle down to the other years.



Written By: Patricia Nkhoma