UNILAG alumnus bags 7UP Harvard MBA scholarship

Twenty-eight-old Bankole Rasheed Makanju, a 2010 Electrical Engineering graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has emerged winner of the 2015 7UP Harvard Business School’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) Scholarship.

The scheme, which is in its fifth year, was initiated by Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc., to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

Makanju, who was recently unveiled at the Afe Babalola Hall of the school, will spend the next two years at the prestigious Harvard Business School, United States on full scholarship.

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be Nigerian citizens resident in the country, and must have gained admission into the U.S.-based school’s MBA Programme.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the General Manager, Human Resources, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Adeyinka Adesina, said the project aligns with the company’s overall vision of creating a greener future for promising Nigerians.

“The overall aim was to breed the next generation of leaders by giving them global leadership training in Harvard Business School, one of the best in the world, so that in a couple of years to come, they can impact Nigeria’s political and economic landscape with their knowledge and leadership acumen, anchored on global best practices.”

He said the scholarship has no strings attached, as the recipient is not bonded to work for sponsoring firm upon graduation.

Echoing Adesina’s view, the firm’s head of marketing, Mr. Norden Thurston, said the company was passionate about Nigerian youths thus its resolve to, through several empowerment platforms, help them actualise their individual dreams.

“The future of Nigeria belongs to the youth and we are encouraged by the positive feedbacks from all the life-changing initiatives by Seven-Up,” he added.