FMB offers scholarships to Mzuni

First Merchant Bank (FMB) on Tuesday donated scholarships worth K1 million (about $2 500) to Mzuzu University (Mzuni) to support oustanding but financially-handicapped students.

Speaking at Mzuni during the official handover ceremony of the cheque, FMB head of marketing Sylvia Nankwenya-Mataka said the donation is more than their corporate social responsibility.

“We feel that Mzuni is doing well academically. So we feel proud to be associated with them,” she said.

She also said it is their duty as a bank to support students who are good academically but struggle to support themselves financially.

“It is such students we want to help. This donation cannot support all of them but we believe that it will make a difference,” she said.

While thanking FMB for the offer, Mzuni Vice-Chancellor Robert Ridley said that the issue of finances is a serious problem at Mzuni because half of the students are self-sponsored thus their tuition fee is quite high unlike those sponsored by government.

He also encouraged other institutions to follow FMB’s gesture.

The donation is going to support six students.

Ridley said the scholarships will target those in dire need but perform well in class.

Apart from supporting students from Mzuni, FMB also sponsors students from other tertiary institutions such as Chancellor College, The Polytechnic and College of Medicine.

FMB is also supporting 50 students in various secondary schools.