The government of Western Equatoria State has selected 38 students in the first phase of the Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit Scholarship Program, officials said Thursday. The program aims to benefit 100 students in total.
The scholarship, offered through the Office of the Presidential Special Envoy, Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit, will allow students to pursue studies in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, with full financial support.
The initiative was launched last month by Adut Salva Kiir, the daughter of President Salva Kiir, who was appointed Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs in August 2025. It is designed to award scholarships to learners from each state and administrative area, targeting orphans, vulnerable children, and students from disadvantaged families.
Speaking to reporters in Yambio, Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa, accompanied by the state Minister of General Education, praised Adut Salva for her commitment to expanding access to education.
He called the initiative “a significant contribution to the education sector,” particularly for vulnerable children, including orphans and those from low-income families.
“Education remains a key pillar for nation-building,” Rimbasa said. He added that the scholarship is a patriotic effort to nurture future leaders of South Sudan.
Rimbasa also commended the State Ministry of General Education for conducting a transparent, merit-based selection process across the state’s counties. He said the government would provide transportation for students to Juba and onward to Aweil.
He urged the scholarship recipients to serve as ambassadors of Western Equatoria State, uphold discipline, and embrace values of peace, hard work, and patriotism.
Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Cecelia Anigunde welcomed the initiative, noting that it supports vulnerable children and fosters unity across South Sudanese communities.
State Minister of General Education Gibson Bullen Wande said the 38 students selected in the first phase include 19 boys and 19 girls from across the state. He added that the remaining beneficiaries will be chosen in a second phase, which is already underway, and all students will soon travel to begin their studies.