Lizzie Wanyoike biography is a name that resonates with the spirit of resilience, ambition, and transformative education in Kenya. She was a woman of humble beginnings who dared to dream big, becoming the founder the Nairobi Institute of Business Studies, businesswoman and great philanthropist.
Her life was marked by an unwavering commitment to education and entrepreneurship while her death shocked and saddened those who knew her or benefited from her work. Lizzie Wanyoike was also as a highly regarded philanthropist.
Lizzie Wanyoike biography, early life & education
Lizzie Wanyoike was born in 1951 in Murang’a County, Kenya. She was the sixth child in a family of ten. Her father was a village chief and her mother a peasant housewife. Despite their humble means, Wanyoike’s parents instilled in her the value of education.
She attended Gathuki-ini Primary School and later Kahuhia Girls High School, where she excelled academically. She then pursued a Diploma in Education at Kenyatta University College.
Career and Achievements
In 1972, Lizzie Wanyoike began her career as a secondary school teacher at State House Girls’ School in Nairobi. However, she soon realized that her true calling was not in working for others but in establishing her own enterprise.
In 1999, with savings of KSh6 million and a bank loan from Equity Bank Kenya Limited worth KSh4 million, she founded the Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS). Starting with just 25 students and two teachers, NIBS has grown exponentially.
By 2018, it had a student population of over 6,000 and an instructor body numbering over 250, spread across four campuses.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Lizzie Wanyoike’s influence extends beyond her financial success. She has made a significant impact on education in Kenya. Her vision of providing quality and affordable education to the youth and adults in Kenya has been realized through NIBS.
Personal Life and Legacy
Lizzie Wanyoike passed away on January 14, 2024, at the age of 73, after battling cancer. Her legacy lives on through the institutions she founded and the countless lives she touched through her work in education and entrepreneurship.
Lizzie Wanyoike biography is a testament to the power of education and the impact one individual can have on society. Her dedication to providing quality education and her entrepreneurial spirit have left an indelible mark on Kenya’s educational landscape.
