First lady graduate mentors girls
Dec 01, 2002
East and Central Africa’s first graduate woman, 76-year-old Sarah Ntiro, will be chief mentor in an initiative to encourage girls to pursue education to the very end, amidst all obstacles.
By Lillian Nalumansi
East and Central Africa’s first graduate woman, 76-year-old Sarah Ntiro, will be chief mentor in an initiative to encourage girls to pursue education to the very end, amidst all obstacles.
The mentoring and motivational initiative of the Forum for African Women Educationalists, Uganda Chapter (FAWEU) will have Ntiro address girls in different secondary schools, spread in five districts of the country, on why not forfeit their education because of pressure from society.
“When I was refused enrolment in the mathematics class at Makerere College in 1946, the only girl in a class of 32, I did not give up, but instead opted for English, History and Geography. When I was required to pass Latin before being admitted to Oxford University, I did not say, ‘Latin is too hard,’ †a brave speaking Ntiro said at FAWE’s offices on Lumumba Avenue, Nakasero, where a press conference to announce the start of the mentoring programme was held.
“I learnt Latin and sat the qualifying exams and passed Latin at Virika Mission, Fort Portal. If I had done Mathematics at Makerere College, I would probably be the first woman Mathematics graduate in Uganda.
But I did not allow that obstacle to kill my dream, and today I am the first woman university graduate in East and Central Africa, because I graduated with a BA(Hons) in History from Oxford University in 1954,†she said.
“If Sarah Nyendwoha Ntiro, the girl child from Bunyoro Kitara, could do it in 1954 when it was thought impossible for women, any girl or woman can succeed today, if they set their mind to it. Nothing is impossible to those who believe in God and in themselves,†Ntiro said in her speech.
FAWEU Chairperson Ruth Kavuma, who was headmistress for Gayaza High School for 10 years and is Woman Member of Parliament for Kalangala District, said the mentoring initiative is funded by the American government under its Education for Development and Democracy Initiative, through which needy but bright girls are given scholarships.
Ntiro will address girl students at Munni Girls in Arua, Mary Hill School Mbarara, Sacred Heart in Gulu, Tororo Girls in Tororo and Nabisunsa Girls in Kampala.
Kavuma said other women to inspire the girls are women of distinction and excellence, including Uganda’s Vice President Specioza Wandera Kazibwe and Uganda’s first woman zoology graduate, Mary Okwakol.
“The girls benefiting from the American government girls scholarship programme will not only have a chance to listen to career talks from distinguished women, but also visit their work places and learn how they manage and the problems they face,†Kavuma said.
“With this, we hope more girls will not sit back and say we cannot do it,†Okwakol concluded.
East and Central Africa’s first graduate woman, 76-year-old Sarah Ntiro, will be chief mentor in an initiative to encourage girls to pursue education to the very end, amidst all obstacles.
The mentoring and motivational initiative of the Forum for African Women Educationalists, Uganda Chapter (FAWEU) will have Ntiro address girls in different secondary schools, spread in five districts of the country, on why not forfeit their education because of pressure from society.
“When I was refused enrolment in the mathematics class at Makerere College in 1946, the only girl in a class of 32, I did not give up, but instead opted for English, History and Geography. When I was required to pass Latin before being admitted to Oxford University, I did not say, ‘Latin is too hard,’ †a brave speaking Ntiro said at FAWE’s offices on Lumumba Avenue, Nakasero, where a press conference to announce the start of the mentoring programme was held.
“I learnt Latin and sat the qualifying exams and passed Latin at Virika Mission, Fort Portal. If I had done Mathematics at Makerere College, I would probably be the first woman Mathematics graduate in Uganda.
But I did not allow that obstacle to kill my dream, and today I am the first woman university graduate in East and Central Africa, because I graduated with a BA(Hons) in History from Oxford University in 1954,†she said.
“If Sarah Nyendwoha Ntiro, the girl child from Bunyoro Kitara, could do it in 1954 when it was thought impossible for women, any girl or woman can succeed today, if they set their mind to it. Nothing is impossible to those who believe in God and in themselves,†Ntiro said in her speech.
FAWEU Chairperson Ruth Kavuma, who was headmistress for Gayaza High School for 10 years and is Woman Member of Parliament for Kalangala District, said the mentoring initiative is funded by the American government under its Education for Development and Democracy Initiative, through which needy but bright girls are given scholarships.
Ntiro will address girl students at Munni Girls in Arua, Mary Hill School Mbarara, Sacred Heart in Gulu, Tororo Girls in Tororo and Nabisunsa Girls in Kampala.
Kavuma said other women to inspire the girls are women of distinction and excellence, including Uganda’s Vice President Specioza Wandera Kazibwe and Uganda’s first woman zoology graduate, Mary Okwakol.
“The girls benefiting from the American government girls scholarship programme will not only have a chance to listen to career talks from distinguished women, but also visit their work places and learn how they manage and the problems they face,†Kavuma said.
“With this, we hope more girls will not sit back and say we cannot do it,†Okwakol concluded.