Equity Bank Managing Director, Gift Shoko, has called on the latest cohort of the Equity Leaders Program (ELP) to embrace purpose-driven lives and rise to leadership with resilience, focus, and integrity.
Speaking during the official launch of the 2025 ELP, Shoko addressed 100 top-performing students selected from districts across Uganda where Equity Bank operates branches.
These scholars, chosen for their outstanding performance in the 2023 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), were welcomed into a week-long intensive leadership and mentorship program set to run from May 4th to 10th.
“This program is not just about leadership in banking,” Shoko said. “It is about nurturing leaders for the nation and for the entire African continent. Leaders are not made through easy paths; they must rise like eagles.”
In a stirring keynote speech, Shoko drew lessons from the eagle, describing it as a symbol of strength and excellence. He urged scholars to emulate six key characteristics of the eagle:
- Fly alone at high altitudes – cultivate independent thought and high aspirations
- Possess sharp, focused vision – remain clear about goals and direction
- Never feed on dead things – avoid outdated thinking and embrace fresh ideas
- Embrace storms – face challenges head-on with courage
- Test before trusting – exercise discernment in leadership
- Train the young rigorously – invest in building future leaders
He further emphasized two core principles he teaches his own children: “There is no free lunch” and “If it is to be, it is up to me”, encouraging scholars to take personal responsibility for their futures.
Shoko also reaffirmed the values that define Equity Bank’s culture—professionalism, integrity, creativity, innovation, teamwork, unity of purpose, respect, and good governance—urging the scholars to embody these in their leadership journeys.
Earlier in the day, Elizabeth Wahito formally launched the 2025 ELP by inviting each scholar to introduce themselves, symbolizing the beginning of a transformative journey anchored in collaboration and shared purpose.
As the scholars undergo registration and onboarding into the Equity Bank system, they are each assigned an ELP number—an enduring identifier that marks them as part of the growing Equity family.
With aspirations ranging from entrepreneurship and personal growth to community transformation, this year’s ELP scholars are already demonstrating the bold mindset the program seeks to cultivate.
The Equity Leaders Program continues to serve as a cornerstone in Equity Bank’s mission to invest in Africa’s future through youth empowerment and leadership development.
