Fifty-eight secondary school finalists for the year 2021-2022 recently received the certificate of their entry into the Excellentia family, during a ceremony organized by the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation (FDNT). This event took place on Saturday August 12, 2023, in the presence of the presidential couple and many distinguished guests, in the marquee of the OAU city.
The Excellentia program, initiated by the president of the FDNT, aims to support and reward the academic excellence of young Congolese. The winners benefit from a five-year university scholarship in the Democratic Republic of Congo or abroad, similar to those of previous editions.
During the ceremony, the prowess of the Excellentia elders was highlighted, underlining the importance of this initiative in the formation of young Congolese. The President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, welcomed this approach, stressing that the DRC needs young people trained in the best possible way.
The Head of State also expressed his desire to formalize a public-private partnership with the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation to support and extend the Excellentia program.
Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, in her moving speech, encouraged the new laureates to follow in the footsteps of their elders and to become examples for future generations. She also expressed her gratitude to the President of the Republic for his unwavering support.
The first lady also warmly welcomed the scholarship recipients of the Lualaba Bora program and called on the other governors of the provinces to follow this example.
In four years of existence, the FDNT’s Excellentia program has already rewarded 241 scholarship holders, including 159 in the DRC, 35 in Morocco, 42 in France and 5 in the United States.
This ceremony ended with the presentation of diplomas of recognition to two schools in the capital, Collège Boboto and the Complexe scolaire les Loupiots, which offered 10 scholarships under the Excellentia program. This approach aims to create emulation within the schools.
The Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation and the Excellentia program continue to play a vital role in supporting and encouraging academic excellence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thanks to these initiatives, Congolese youth will be trained in an exemplary manner, which will contribute to the development and the future of the country