NMB Bank and the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) are strengthening their partnership to promote academic excellence, nurture young talent and prepare graduates for employment under a five-year cooperation agreement running through 2029.
The partnership, which began in 2023, has seen the NMB Best Student Awards programme expand from recognising three students at the University of Dar es Salaam Business School to 10 outstanding students across different academic disciplines.
Speaking during the NMB Best Student Awards 2025/2026 ceremony held on October 12, NMB Head of HR Shared Services Joseph Ngalawa said the partnership reflects the bank's commitment to supporting higher education and helping young Tanzanians develop skills relevant to the workplace.
He said recognising academic achievement should go hand in hand with preparing graduates for the demands of professional life.
"When we started in 2023, the programme recognised three outstanding students from the Business School. Through our partnership with UDSM, we have expanded that recognition to 10 students across different academic programmes," Ngalawa said.
He explained that NMB has also supported more than 150 graduates through career-readiness initiatives that introduce participants to banking procedures, workplace ethics and professional communication.
The bank also organises career fairs connecting university students with industry professionals, helping them understand employment opportunities and the skills required by employers.
During the ceremony, 10 outstanding students from the 2025/2026 academic year received certificates of academic excellence and TSh2 million each, bringing the total financial awards to TSh20 million.
UDSM Vice-Chancellor Professor William Anangisye commended NMB for sustaining the partnership, saying recognition of outstanding academic performance encourages students to pursue higher standards of achievement.
He urged graduating students to apply their knowledge and skills in ways that benefit their communities and contribute to national development.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Badawi Abdul Issa said the awards programme had motivated students to work harder after witnessing previous recipients being recognised for their achievements.
The five-year agreement, which runs through 2029, provides a continuing framework for NMB and UDSM to recognise academic achievement, support talent development and strengthen engagement between higher education and the employment sector.