Ecobank has launched a 3-year sponsorship program for Uganda’s Chess Olympiad Gloria Nansubuga where the bank will pay for her education up to the University –should she choose to go to a public University in Uganda.
The sponsorship was confirmed on Tuesday by Ecobank Executive Director Annette Kihuguru during her visit at Som chess academy in Makindye opposite military police barracks. Nansubuga, who joined the chess academy four years ago after it started in 2001, is an S.6 student at Jinja secondary school.
She says that the sponsorship is a huge motivation towards achieving her chess career dreams.
“I want to first of all thank the director of the academy Mr. Katende (Robert) and thank Ecobank for the generosity. I am very happy because I did not expect this sponsorship. Talent shapes life and I encourage my fellow teenagers to embrace their talent and work hard to bring out their very best,” noted Nansubuga, who vowed not to let down the sponsors.
Nansubuga’s sponsorship comes after an impressive performance at the 2018 Olympiad in Georgia where she emerged the best performer on the Ugandan team with 6.5 points.
The 18-year old also finished with 4.5 points at the 2018 African youth championship in Kenya and has previously also won the U18 category in 2017, U16 in 2016 and the U8 in 2007.
On top of her education, Ecobank will also offer an air ticket to Nansubuga for one international event every year during the sponsorship period.
“Gloria’s sponsorship spans over 4 years and is estimated at Shs50m. Supporting local talent like this feeds into Ecobank’s overall objective of economically transforming Africa. When young talent is nurtured and supported to compete in international tournaments and win, they bring cash prize to our continent which contributes to the country’s GDP,” noted Kihuguru.
Robert Katende, the Som chess academy director which is under the Robert Katende ministries, was grateful to the management of Ecobank, saying that his ministry focuses on using chess to change the livelihoods of children from Katwe and surrounding areas.
