Equity Bank is expanding its support for young talents by investing Sh2.52 million in prizes for winners at this year’s Kenya Music Festival national competitions, as part of efforts to encourage creativity and help learners develop skills beyond the classroom.
The sponsorship will benefit students competing in categories supported by the bank, with the national event set to bring together learners from primary schools, secondary schools, teacher training colleges, TVET institutions and universities at Kibabii University in Bungoma County.
Equity Bank Head of Education Peter Ndoro said the partnership with the festival is aimed at creating opportunities for learners to use their talents as a pathway to personal growth and future livelihoods.
“Our partnership goes beyond sponsorship. We want to create meaningful opportunities and nurture responsible citizens who will drive positive change in society,” Ndoro said.
The bank has supported the Kenya Music Festival for three consecutive years, investing more than Sh25 million from the sub-county level to the national stage.
This year’s sponsorship is guided by Equity’s theme, “Sustainable Transformation for a Resilient Future: Protecting Our Environment, Empowering Our Communities for Wealth Creation,” which aligns with the festival’s main theme of promoting the creative economy through knowledge, skills and artistic production.
Ndoro said learners should view their talents as tools for creating change and contributing to national development.
“Students should use their talents creatively to inspire change, promote environmental responsibility and demonstrate how empowered citizens can create wealth and resilience,” he said.
At the regional level, Equity sponsored 11 competition categories involving primary, junior and senior schools, with Sh4.4 million awarded to winners and 88 trophies presented.
The national competition will feature 14 categories under the Equity sponsorship, where winners will share a Sh2.52 million prize package. Each category winner will receive Sh100,000, second-place winners Sh50,000 and third-place winners Sh30,000.
Teachers behind successful performances will also be rewarded, receiving Sh30,000, Sh20,000 and Sh10,000 for first, second and third positions respectively.
Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr James Mwangi said the sponsorship reflects the bank’s wider commitment to sustainable development and empowering communities.
“The question before us is no longer simply how to transform lives, but how to sustain that transformation for generations to come,” Mwangi said.
He added that sustainability is embedded in the bank’s approach to financing, investment and community empowerment.
“We recognise that prosperity cannot exist without stewardship of our environment,” he said.
The bank said its sustainability programmes include supporting the planting of more than 39.6 million trees, promoting clean energy solutions, financing climate-smart agriculture and supporting sustainable enterprises.
Ndoro said Equity also wants to ensure that learners do not only participate in competitions but are supported to benefit economically from their talents.
He said discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Education on ways of helping young performers monetise their skills and create sustainable careers.
“It is our responsibility as responsible organisations to support these children and young learners to earn a livelihood from their talents,” Ndoro said.
