Dutchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has started her 2019 royal responsibilities by becoming the patron of The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) which offers scholarship schemes to hundreds of institutions across over 50 countries in the Commonwealth.
The association is present in several African countries including Nigeria which has more than 20 member-universities, followed by South Africa with 14 and Kenya and Ghana with 10 respectively.
The announcement was made by the Kensington Palace after Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of England, approved and gave Meghan the responsibility.
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According to a tweet sent out by the Kensington Palace, The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, passed on the patronage to Meghan after 33 years of overseeing the activities of the organisation. Meghan Markle becomes the second royal patron of the association since its establishment in 1913.
As part of her role as patron, Meghan Markle will work with ACU to expand accessible educational opportunities, enable vital research, and support the long-term vitality of higher education for people in the Commonwealth.
The Association of Commonwealth Universities expressed delight in having Meghan Markle as its patron stating that the Dutchess of Sussex shares in their passion for the transformational power of education which will help champion higher education as a force for good in the Commonwealth and beyond.
With the mission to promote better and higher education, the association offers scholarship schemes including the UK government’s three major scholarship programmes and The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships. Aside scholarships, the association also offers academic research and leadership funds while promoting inter-university interaction and cooperation through exchange programmes.
The association is the oldest university network in the world and African students have benefitted immensely since its inception. The possibilities of Meghan Markle having a special scholarship programme in her name are very high.
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is not the only charity organisation that Meghan Markle will be a patron of. In total,
The Kensington Palace announced four charity organisations that reflect her keen interest in education, arts, gender and animal welfare.
They include The National Theatre which was also under the Queen’s patronage, The Mayhew animal home and Smart Works, an organisation that helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women gain skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives.
The honorary roles
