Old Mutual to support pan-African youth leadership development initiative

Attending the signing, from left: Gim Victor, Divya Babu, Khanyi Chaba, Simpiwe Somdala, Carine Seke, Ralph Mupita, Dr Nkosana Moyo, Rumbidzai Chisenga, Mpho Nhlabathi, Sipho Gumbi and Clinton Rodgers.

To develop leaders with a broad pan-African focus, Old Mutual made a formal commitment to support an exciting education initiative by the Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS).

MINDS, a non-profit trust set up in 2010 to address development challenges in Africa, will offer scholarships to between 500 and 1 000 students a year at about 50 universities across the continent, with the ultimate aim of increasing social and economic cohesion between African countries.

The Scholarship Programme will provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with the opportunity to study outside their own country to broaden their understanding of continental issues and develop influential personal networks.

At the signing of a partnership initiative between MINDS and Old Mutual in Johannesburg, MINDS Founder and Executive Chair Dr Nkosana Moyo said he was delighted that Old Mutual is helping to drive this exciting initiative, and that ‘a pool of young leaders committed to facilitating greater cooperation between African countries will play a critical role in achieving the continent’s future success’.

Old Mutual has committed a total of R3 million over three years from 2017 to 2019. Old Mutual Emerging Markets Chief Executive Ralph Mupita commented that as a financial services provider with an expanding footprint on the African continent, Old Mutual is proud to be a cornerstone investor in this visionary initiative. ‘We share MINDS’ belief that the graduates of this Programme will be well equipped to promote the performance and tangible progress of our continent. There is no doubt that a more integrated African economy of global scale will accelerate growth, generate positive outcomes and benefit all its communities.‘

Also in attendance at the signing were Sipho Gumbi, Simpiwe Somdala, Khanyi Chaba, Clinton Rodgers and Gim Victor from Old Mutual and Rumbidzai Chisenga, Carine Seke and Tholoana Phoshodi from MINDS.