FSA awards two Seychellois with fully sponsored scholarships |22 June 2023
The two awardees in a souvenir photograph with guests (Photo: Louis Toussaint)
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has awarded two fully sponsored scholarships to two Seychellois to pursue higher education in the financial services field.
The two, namely Ryan Dewea and Annoushka Sinon, received their scholarships during a short ceremony yesterday at the FSA headquarters, Bois de Rose.
Interested candidates had to submit an application form and fulfil the criteria,which included being currently employed within the Non-Bank Financial Service sector (NBFS) or seeking a career in the sector, and with at least 3 years of relevant work experience to be eligible for the scholarship programme. In total, FSA received 17 applications this year.
The chief executive of SFA, Randolf Samson, congratulated the two awardees and said that the FSA’s focus is on transformation and growth of the sector through the application of sound, regulatory and supervisory framework that protects consumers of financial services, investors and also the reputation of Seychelles.
Mr Samson added that the scholarship programme has the key aim of addressing the skills gap that is already present.
“The FSA has identified the unavailability and shortage of competent talents and we hope that the development and the education of the talents will allow the sector to develop even further,” he said.
Secretary of state for Finance, Trade and Investment, Patrick Payet, also took the opportunity to congratulate the two awardees. “As CEO mentioned, although it is a cost to the FSA, it is an investment for the country which we are greatly pushing – for us to have more local professionals. Hopefully in the next five years or so we should be able to have a lot of qualified Seychellois,” he said.
One of the awardees, Ryan Dewea, said he was very excited to begin the next part of his career and was glad to have been chosen among the applicants.
“I am ready to go give it my all and come back to contribute to my country and the industry,” he said.
Ryan has been in the financial industry since 2019 after finishing University and with the scholarship he will be pursuing a one year course in Masters in Law specialising in regulations and compliance at the University of law in London.
For her part, Annoushka Sinon said she was very proud to obtain such an award. “With my already existing experience in finance I can support this with a foundation which I can now get with this scholarship.”
Annoushka, who is currently in the investment sector, has 10 years’ experience in the finance sector and will be studying for a three year degree in DBE Administration Financial services.