Ashesi University, United States International University (USIU-Africa), and The University of South Africa will serve as inaugural partners

NEW YORK, August 17, 2015 – The Africa-America Institute, a premier U.S.-based international education organization, is pleased to announce the three inaugural educational partner intuitions for its new scholarship fund, Future Leaders Legacy Fund.

The Future Leaders Legacy Fund is a new initiative that will provide Africa’s brightest, yet under-resourced, students, who would be the first in their family to attend university, with scholarships to study in high-performing African universities and technical colleges to earn bachelor’s degrees and vocational and technical training certifications. The Fund will also ensure that African universities benefit by receiving increased resources to retain and educate students.

The Legacy Fund’s inaugural partner institutions are:

• Ashesi University, Accra, Ghana
• United States International University (USIU-Africa), Nairobi, Kenya
• UNISA – The University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Today, only 6% of young people in sub-Saharan Africa are enrolled in higher education institutions, compared to the global average of 26%, UNESCO estimates. The Legacy Fund aims to expand access to higher education and post-secondary technical and vocational schools to strengthen Africa’s skilled workforce to meet local and global market demands and advance economic growth throughout the continent.

“With the world’s youngest population at 200 million, investing in the next generation of African leaders must be a high priority in accelerating development progress on the continent,” said Amini Kajunju, AAI President and CEO.

“AAI has selected three of Africa’s high-performing universities to serve as inaugural partners of our growing network of educational institutions for the Future Leaders Legacy Fund,” Kajunju emphasized. “Legacy Fund scholarship recipients, many who may be the first in their family to attain a higher education and technical certifications, are now able to gain a quality education and skills to improve their livelihood and contribute to the dynamic emerging economies and prosperity throughout Africa.”

The scholarship fund will be officially launched at AAI’s Future Leaders Legacy Fund Awards Gala on September 29 in New York City. AAI is actively seeking donors and additional partner institutions to increase the number of higher education and technical institutions participating in the Legacy Fund network.

The Legacy Fund aims to raise $2.5 million to enable 300 students to receive an excellent university education in Africa . 

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ABOUT AAI:        Founded in 1953, The Africa-America Institute (AAI) is a premier U.S.-based international organization dedicated to strengthening human capacity of Africans and promoting the continent’s development through higher education and skills training, convening activities, program implementation and management. 

CONTACT: Shanta Bryant Gyan 646.290.8211• shanta@sbgcommunications.com • www.aaionline.org