First Lady Denise Nyakeru Launches ‘Fondation Lona’ at 6th Excellentia

Democratic Republic of Congo First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi has rebranded her flagship education charity as “Fondation Lona” during the 6th edition of the Excellentia scholarship awards, reaffirming her commitment to promoting excellence and equal opportunities for Congolese youth.

The awards ceremony, held on Thursday at the Cultural and Artistic Center of Central African Countries in Kinshasa, was attended by President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe, and other senior officials.

The Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation has been renamed Fondation Lona, a Lingala word meaning “to sow.” The First Lady said the new identity reflects the organisation’s mission to “sow excellence in people to build a better Congo.”

His new stage is about creating a fairer and more equitable Congolese society where excellence and equal opportunities are pillars,” she told guests.

• Recognising the 2025 Laureates

• The 6th edition honoured 206 new scholarship winners:

• 79 under the Excellentia Programme

• 64 under Excellentia Lualaba Bora

• 63 under Excellentia Wantashi

Addressing the laureates, the First Lady described them as “young seeds sown, ready to germinate, grow, and bear fruit that will beautify the land of Congo and become solutions for its people.”