UK Scholarships Expand to Ethiopia, Funding Future Leaders

Three exceptional students from Ethiopia, Cabo Verde, and Djibouti will head to UK universities this fall with full scholarships, thanks to a partnership that just grew bigger.

iibGroup, an international banking organization, expanded its Chevening Scholarship program to include Ethiopia for the 2026-2027 academic year. The move triples the group's education investment across East and West Africa, building on two years of success in Cabo Verde and Djibouti.

The partnership became official at a signing ceremony on June 2 at the UK Ambassador's residence in Addis Ababa. UK Ambassador to Ethiopia Darren Welch and iibGroup Chairman Sohail Sultan marked the occasion alongside education and finance leaders from both countries.

The scholarships cover far more than tuition. Students receive full funding for living expenses, mentorship from banking professionals, and hands-on experience working on real projects across iibGroup's African operations.

"Over the past year, students supported through these scholarships have demonstrated the transformative power of investing in talent," Sultan said at the ceremony. He emphasized that the impact reaches beyond individual students into their entire communities.

The Ripple Effect

The timing matters for Ethiopia's financial sector. Ambassador Welch noted that scholars will gain exposure to London's market, one of the world's largest and most innovative financial hubs, then bring that knowledge home.

Previous scholarship recipients have already started creating change in their home countries. Their success stories convinced iibGroup to expand rather than simply renew the program.

The Chevening program connects scholars to a global network of more than 60,000 alumni across 160 countries. That means Ethiopian students join a powerful community of leaders, innovators, and changemakers spanning decades.

iibGroup specifically focuses its scholarships on women leaders in finance, addressing gender gaps in a traditionally male-dominated field. The approach aligns with the company's broader work supporting women and youth-led enterprises across emerging markets.

The scholarships target people with proven leadership abilities and a clear vision for making a difference. Recipients must show how they plan to apply their education to challenges facing their communities.

Beyond the three students heading to the UK this year, the expanded partnership signals a long-term commitment to education across the Horn of Africa and beyond. iibGroup operates across East Africa, the Middle East, West Africa, and the Caribbean, with plans to extend similar programs to other regions.

Ambassador Welch expressed confidence in the scholars' future impact. "We are investing not only in education, but in the future of Ethiopia's financial sector and its global connections," he said.

The next generation of African financial leaders is getting ready to study, learn, and return home equipped to drive innovation and inclusive growth.