General

Mak beats odds to emerge Second Runner Up in Inaugural Insurance Quiz

Published

4 years ago

October 23, 2017

Mark Wamai

The Team of 3rd Year B.COM Students that emerged 2nd Runners Up in the Insurance Quiz pose with their trophy in the Boardroom, 23rd October 2017, School of Business, CoBAMS, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. Ms. Ankunda Nisa (Front: 3rd L) won herself a scholarship from IIU.

Makerere University Bachelor of Commerce Students beat all odds to emerge as second runners up in the inaugural Inter-University Insurance Quiz held on Friday 20th October 2017 at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. The students who only learned of the competition on the eve of the event through their mentor Dr. Godfrey Akileng-Head, Department of Accounting, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), however took the last minute preparations to heart and emerged triumphant.

“There is no module on insurance under the Bachelor of Commerce (B.COM) programme but our students did well, despite my initial hesitation owing to the short notice. We are very proud of them as a College” said Dr. Akileng. He however added that in future, insurance would be taught as a core course under the new curriculum currently under review. “This will equip our students with the basics of underwriting” he added.

Dr. Godfrey Akileng shows off the Winners' Trophy and Certificate shortly after they were presented by the team

The inaugural quiz was jointly organised by the Uganda Insurers Association and the Insurance Institute of Uganda (IIU) and the Makerere University team took home a trophy, certificates of participation and recognition and a brand new Tecno Spark smart phone for each of the five participants. Additionally, one of the team members Ms. Ankunda Nisa won herself a fully sponsored Certificate of Proficiency in Insurance from IIU in recognition of her excellent oral performance during the quiz. Other members of the team were; Katungi Andrew, Namutebi Zurah, Kirumira Julius and Ndekezi Bernadine.

Commenting on the selection criteria for participation in the quiz, Dr. Akileng said “Owing to the demanding preparation schedules for the quizzes coupled with other academic demands, we choose 3rd Year students with the highest CGPAs in the B.COM class to participate. This year, we selected the top 15 students and split them into teams of five to prepare for the: Ethics Challenge and the CFA Institute Research Challenge both organised by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute of Uganda and the recently concluded Insurance Quiz.”

Dr. Godrey Akileng (L) interacts with some of the 3rd Year B.COM Students on 23rd October 2017

In Dr. Akileng, the students have found a supportive and knowledgeable mentor. He personally participated in the CFA Institute Research Challenge of 2009 and his team emerged as global runners up. “For my efforts, I won a cash prize, trophy, certificate and books that I still use to teach my students. I also had the opportunity to meet CEOs of top global brands like Apple’s late Steve Jobs.”

The next CFA Institute Research Challenge for the East African local chapter is scheduled to take place in February 2018 and the team is confident that they will do well. “The Insurance Quiz was a way to build up your question approach and answering skills for the next level. Participation gives you the opportunity to open yourself up and meet people you have never met and gain experience you never had. I received heartwarming report from the IIU CEO-Mr. Saul Sseremba that Makerere had the most decent students in the competition. I encourage you to uphold this” lauded Dr. Akileng.

The Winning Team Members L-R: Kirumira Julius, Ndekezi Bernadine, Katungi Andrew, Ankunda Nisa and Namutebi Zurah show off their trophy, certificate and smartphones shortly after the award ceremony on 20th October 2017, Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala Uganda

Other teams that participated in the inaugural Insurance Quiz were drawn from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Bugema University, Kyambogo University, Mutesa I Royal University and Buganda Royal Institute.

Article by Public Relations Office

General

Veteran Professor changed Makerere and Higher Education

Published

3 days ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Professor Pancras John Mukasa Ssebuwufu (L) receives a plaque and citation from RUFORUM Board Member and Vice Chancellor Ndejje University-Professor Eriabu Lugujjo (Right) on 6th May 2021 at the RUFORUM Secretariat, Plot 155 Garden Hill, Makerere University Main Campus,

When Professor John Ssebuwufu ambled up to receive a certificate of recognition for his ‘exceptional’ contribution to higher education from the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) at Makerere University (MU), he was thinking of many things, such as rewarding staff, that he could have done differently to impact university education more.

But he did what he could have done, under the circumstances.

He presided over MU (in 1993) when student enrolment was 5,000 and left in 2004 when the population was surging to more than 15,000.

He emphasised the use of information communication technologies in almost all the institutions he had been involved in and sent many academic staff on exchanges to boost research and innovation. Now, more African universities engage in ground-breaking research.

So, he proceeded to accept his recognition and make his acceptance speech, which was mostly about gratitude.

Ssebuwufu, 74, who is currently the chancellor at Kyambogo University and the vice-chancellor of the University of Kisubi, is credited for his exemplary leadership and pragmatic methods that have shaped higher education in Uganda and Africa as a whole.

General

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022

Published

4 days ago

June 21, 2021

Mark Wamai

Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2021/2022. Photo credit: AfDB

The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program is a capacity building project by the AfDB and Japan which was initiated in 2017 with the aim of providing two-year scholarship awards to highly achieving African graduate students to enable them to undergo post-graduate studies (i.e. a two-year Master’s degree program) in selected priority development areas on the continent and Japan. The overarching goal the AfDB and the Government of Japan seek to attain is to enhance skills and human resources development in Africa in under the Bank’s High 5s agenda (i.e. “Feed Africa”, “Light up Africa”, “Industrialize Africa”, “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa”) and key Japanese development assistance initiatives. JADS core areas of study focus include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering. The program also seeks to promote inter-university collaboration and university-industry partnerships between Japan and Africa. Upon completion of their studies, the JADS scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the public and private sectors, and contribute to national and continental socio-economic development.

About the JADS program

The JADS Program is open to applicants from AfDB member countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a graduate degree program in energy development and related discipline. The program does not provide scholarships to any other graduate degree program.

The scholarship program provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.

Upon completion of their studies, the beneficiary scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and disseminate their newly acquired knowledge and skills, and contribute to the promotion of sustainable development of their countries.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The program is open to those who have gained admission to an approved Masters degree course at a Japanese partner university. Candidates should be 35 years old or younger; in good health; with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the energy area or related area; and have a superior academic record. Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to return to their home country to contribute to its economic and social development.

Application Procedures

Applicant requests for information and application forms and procedures from the chosen JADS partner university. For any inquiries, please contact JADS@AFDB.ORG
Applicant completes required documents and sends them to the university.
University evaluates and selects applicants.
University sends selected candidates to the AfDB.
AfDB reviews submissions from universities, prepares and approves the final list.
AfDB contacts selected awardees, and informs the universities.