Shifting focus and in line with its Young Leadership programmme, Independent investments management firm, Cytonn is set to provide mentorship and training to students at the University of Eldoret. Primarily focused on offering alternative investment solutions to high net-worth individuals, global and institutional investors and Kenyans in the diaspora interested in the high-growth East-African region, Cytonn now embarks on a journey of mentoring as Felix Boyd reports.
In Summary
- The partnership is to provide mentorship and training to the students
- The programme will see some of the top graduates from the university gain practical work experience by working at Cytonn Investments
- Cytonn Investments has already gotten into partnerships with University of Embu and Moi University
- The programme commenced in January 2015, with an inaugural class of 6 Investment interns
- To date, the programme has trained over 500 young leaders from various universities across the country and Cytonn has offered jobs to about 150 of them
Cytonn Investments Management Plc through its Cytonn Young Leadership Programme (CYLP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ’M.o.U’, with University of Eldoret at the University’s Nairobi Campus. The partnership is to provide mentorship and training to the students. The programme will see some of the top graduates from the university gain practical work experience by working at Cytonn Investments in fields like Investments, Real Estate, Human Resource, Marketing, Finance, Operations, ICT, Legal amongst others
During the ceremony, Anne Wanjiru Joseph, The Assistant Manager – Human Resource at Cytonn Investments stated that a strong alignment exists between the University’s vision and Cytonn’s vision.
“In Cytonn’s pursuit of being a leading Investments Manager in Africa, it would be a vision easily achieved by getting the right talent on board. Finding the right talent still remains a challenge for high performing companies such as Cytonn Investments, and increased partnerships such as the one formed today with The University of Eldoret, where we already have benefited from current alumni, cements our desire to attract, train and retain the right people’.
The Director of Partnerships at University of Eldoret, Professor Violet Mugalavai, lauded the initiative stating that it was very positive and a great avenue for capacity building amongst the student population from the University as they seek to align with the job market demands.
She added that the Cytonn Young Leaders Programme had a great strategy in packaging the graduates and making them ready for absorption into the job market. As from her standpoint, skill set development from an early age is really needed to move the country towards actualization of vision 2030.
Cytonn Investments has already gotten into partnerships with University of Embu and Moi University. The partnership, which is co-ordinated under the Cytonn Foundation, seeks to partner with more universities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility in training and mentoring young talent.
CYLP is under the Cytonn Foundation’s Training and Mentorship Pillar that seeks to ensure; Learning and development of each individual that goes through the programme; individuals are exposed to the working environment through a comprehensive and practical experience; individuals are exposed to the culture of team work, excellence, innovation, accountability and integrity; and talent acquisition for the company: getting the best talent in the industry for its human capital. The other pillars of Cytonn Foundation include Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship.
The programme commenced in January 2015, with an inaugural class of 6 Investment interns. To date, the programme has trained over 500 young leaders from various universities across the country and Cytonn has offered jobs to about 150 of them. The progress of individuals who leave at the end of the programme is tracked and most of them have a sharp start as they begin fulfilling careers.
For one to join the programme, they ought to; Have achieved at least a B+ or equivalent in high school, graduated or will graduate with at least a second class upper from a recognized university; and demonstrate leadership qualities and be committed to succeeding in a team context.
Cytonn Investments currently has over Kshs. 82 billion of investments and projects under mandate, mainly in real estate.