Afolabi, Head of Leadership at Lloyds Banking Group and long-time supporter, reflects on attending our summer event at Queen Mary University.
“It was a real honour to be part of Thrive, The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation’s first ever graduation celebration. Seeing the graduates in the room — many of whom began their journey just a few years ago — was a powerful reminder of how transformational access to education can be when the right support is in place. The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation is doing something truly special: removing financial barriers and opening doors for talented Black students who might otherwise never have had the chance to go to university. It was deeply moving to hear the stories of these graduates, their journeys, and their hopes for the future.
Personally, I’ve always been proud to support Cowrie’s work in any which way I can, because the impact is so real and so visible. I have huge admiration for Richard and the team for their dedication, vision, and the way they’ve built something that’s now producing incredible outcomes. To be invited to speak to the students about how to navigate their careers as underrepresented talent was a privilege. I left the event inspired, energised, and more committed than ever to helping create spaces where opportunity is open to all. Here’s to many more graduations, continued success, and hopefully more folk supporting the cause!”
Afolabi Sonaike
Head of Leadership, Lloyds Banking Group
