Catherine Phiri and 24 others receive scholarships.

Zambia’s female boxing icon Catherine Phiri is among the 24 other academically talented underprivileged young women and girls have been offered scholarships to study business and leadership courses in different parts of the world.

Upon completing her secondary education in Zambia, Catherine Phiri will study sports management in Italy.

ZANIS reports that the Justina Mutale Foundation in partnership with the European School of Economics (ESE)  decided to offer Business and Leadership Scholarships while the Rai University of India will offer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarships to the women and girls.

During the launch of the Justina Mutale Foundation scholarship on Thursday night at the Zambia House in London, Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Muyeba Chikonde said in his welcoming remarks that Zambia attaches great importance to the empowerment of women and girls.

He added that the country has practically demonstrated this through various ways and that is why organisations such as the Justina Mutale foundation which is complimenting Government’s efforts should be supported.

Mr. Chikonde said the choice of Catherine Phiri is not an accident but designed to inspire other women and girls to excel irrespective of their background.

The High Commissioner said that the addition of sports management will help the female boxing superstar to further her education and provide a future beyond boxing.

The occasion was graced by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, the Permanent Representative of the African Union to the European union and ACP secretariat, Brussels Ambassador Ajay K. Bramdeo, founder and president of the European School of Economics Professor Elio D’Anna, and Professor Chris O. Imafidon.

And Justina Mutale said Catherine Phiri and the other 24 scholarship recipients, will be the first to benefit from the initiative and that other scholarships will go to vulnerable and under privileged women and girls across Africa.

“We all need to acknowledge that our Governments do not have all the answers, nor the requisite resources to solve the problems that our Continent faces regarding educating our youth, especially our young women and girls. Our scholarship programmes aims to give young women from Africa an opportunity of a lifetime. Cross-cultural learning and studying abroad can be transformative to one’s future and outlook on life”, she said.

Ms. Mutale said recipients of the ESE Scholarship would be able to study International Business and Leadership at any of the six ESE campuses in different cities including London, New York, Madrid, Florence and Rome while Rai University has several campuses in India, including Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, European School of Economics founder and president Elio D’anna said the ESE scholarships will provide women and girls an expressive outlet for an array of the human needs, satisfying the desire to be challenged, succeed and to interact in a group.

This is contained in a statement issue to ZANIS by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Abigail Chaponda at the Zambia High Commission in the United Kingdom.