Darwin has welcomed its first cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars this term, six remarkable students from across Africa pursuing a diverse array of research with an emphasis on conservation and sustainability.
Since its creation in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme has supported over 40,000 scholars (over 70% of them young women) to study at 29 global partner institutions. At the University of Cambridge, the programme is designed to provide students from under-represented communities in Africa with fully-funded opportunities to complete their master’s training, grow their leadership potential, and contribute to climate resilience and sustainability efforts.
Darwin’s Master, Dr Mike Rands, has been involved with the programme since its outset, having supported its creation in his previous role as Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. He is joined on the board by Darwin Fellow Professor Chris Sandbrook, Director of both the Conservation Research Institute and the MPhil in Conservation Leadership.
From top left, Darwin’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars 2025 are as follows:
- Jacqueline Niyodusenga, from Rwanda, is working towards an MPhil in Education, Globalisation and International Development. She intends to deepen her understanding of how educational policies shape opportunities for marginalised communities in Africa, with the long-term aspiration to effect change in educational systems across the continent.
- Abubakar Abass is a scholar from Ghana pursuing an MPhil in Development Studies. His research is on the influence of technology on economic development. He is interested in researching how youth-led enterprises can leverage the use of digital tools to integrate into the Global Value Chain.
- Esther Barakengera is a civil engineer from Eswatini with experience supervising road construction projects and structural works. She advocates for prioritising long-term resilience over short-term goals, and for financial strategies that foster innovation and sustainable investment. Esther is pursuing an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development and aims to broaden her expertise to include infrastructure policymaking and sustainability evaluation. Through her studies, she hopes to contribute to driving these transformative changes and developing climate-resilient cities.
- Samson Oluwatosin Adewoye is a mechanical engineer driven by a passion for advancing clean combustion energy and sustainable technologies that can transform lives across Africa and beyond. His MPhil in Engineering will explore the transient flame propagation and stabilisation of hydrogen jet flames, laying the foundation for cleaner, safer combustion systems that can shape Africa’s energy future and contribute to a more sustainable world. With over a decade of teaching experience, Samson also strives to lead, inspire and mentor young energy enthusiasts to become the next generation of problem-solvers and changemakers.
- Ruquaiya Shuaaibu is a backend developer from Nigeria interested in leveraging tech to address environmental challenges. Through her research, she hopes to use imaging technology to simulate environmental landscapes to predict and prevent environmental disasters. Ruquaiya is pursuing an MPhil in Advanced Computer Science and hopes to return to industry after her programme to actualise her research.
- Isaac Ebwol, from Uganda, is pursuing an MPhil in Children’s Literature. He intends to critically examine fundamental issues addressed in writing for children which are sometimes overlooked as trivial, including race, gender, class, and social concerns. Isaac also plans to thematically focus on environmental awareness as an ideology in children’s literature and Young Adult Fiction.
