The government of Western Equatoria State has selected 38 students (19 boys and 19 girls) in the initial phase of the Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit Scholarship Program, with plans to benefit a total of 100 students from the state.
The announcement was made on March 19, 2026, by state officials, including Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa and State Minister of General Education Gibson Bullen Wande.
The scholarship, offered through the Office of the Presidential Special Envoy Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit (daughter of President Salva Kiir and appointed Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs in August 2025), provides full financial support for secondary education at Cornestone Vision Academy in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
The program targets orphans, vulnerable children, and students from disadvantaged families across South Sudan’s states and administrative areas.
It aims to expand access to quality education, nurture future leaders, and promote unity and patriotism among young South Sudanese.
The selection process was merit-based and transparent, conducted across Western Equatoria’s counties by the State Ministry of General Education.
The remaining 62 beneficiaries will be chosen in a second ongoing phase.
Governor Rimbasa praised Adut Salva Kiir for her commitment to education and vulnerable groups, describing the initiative as “a significant contribution to the education sector” and a “patriotic effort” to build the nation.
“Education remains a key pillar for nation-building,” he said, urging recipients to serve as ambassadors for Western Equatoria by upholding discipline, peace, hard work, and patriotic values.State Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Cecelia Anigunde welcomed the program for supporting vulnerable children and fostering community unity.
All selected students will soon travel to begin their studies, with the state government arranging transportation from Western Equatoria to Juba and onward to Aweil.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts by Adut Salva Kiir’s office to provide scholarships nationwide, including previous announcements of hundreds of spots for orphans and disadvantaged youth in various programs launched in early 2026.
