BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes@SunZambian
UNICAF University has announced a scholarship programme worth K20 million (US$1 million) for eligible Zambian students following its concern that the economic fallout of Covid-19 could force many students to drop out of university, due to increased financial burden.
The announcement of the programme was timed to give its current and future students an extra reason to celebrate the milestone of 56 years of national independence, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and national efforts to get Zambia’s economy back on track.The scholarships to both undergraduate and post-graduate eligible students in various fields will certainly help to elevate Zambia’s prospects of making a swift rebound from the pandemic in particular, says Unicaf University in Zambia Vice Chancellor, Christine Phiri.Dr Phiri expressed optimism that the University would be able to contribute to helping the Zambia’s constrained economy to grow through the scholarship programme.“Making this announcement on the eve of national celebrations to mark the milestone of 56 years of independence, demonstrates our commitment to contribute to Zambia’s sustained development, by producing the much needed human capital that can readily be absorbed in various sectors of the economy,” she said in a statement.She indicated that supporting students was a realistic path to building the future proud and free.The theme of this year’s Independence Day celebrations is: “24th October, 2020, Zambia at 56. One land, One Nation – Building our Future Proud and Free.”Dr Phiri said the Unicaf University scholarships committed to Zambians would undoubtedly go a long way in helping to build a future Zambia, with united, proud and free citizens. “It seems that we are in for the long haul with the pandemic,” she said.Unicaf University operates state-of-the-art campuses and learning centres in twelve African countries and offers the options of exclusively online studies, or a combination of online delivery with face to face classroom tuition.
It is accredited in Zambia by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and is the first tertiary institution in Zambia to be accredited internationally by the British Accreditation Council in the United Kingdom.
