Dikshya Lama, an ACCA student in Nepal, has been selected to receive the prestigious inaugural scholarship in memory of Ummed Jain, FCCA.
Ummed, Nepal’s first ACCA member, passed away in December 2020 at the age of 72. He travelled to the UK in 1970 under a scholarship from the British Council to study for the ACCA qualification, and after many years of inspiring future members into the profession, in 2006 he was the first recipient of the ACCA Achievement Award in recognition of his work to promote ACCA in Nepal.
“Ummed Jain was an outstanding ambassador not only for ACCA but for the entire profession and the value it contributes to society,” said ACCA chief executive Helen Brand. “His influence on the accountancy profession’s development is enormous.”
Rabin Katwal, head of ACCA Nepal, added: “Ummed’s passion and contribution to accountancy and accountancy education during the early days in Nepal will always be remembered.”
Ummed Jain was a passionate ACCA member, as are his three surviving children who are all Fellows of ACCA (FCCAs). His legacy now lives on to inspire and support the next generation of finance professionals with the introduction of a new scholarship fund set up by his family.
The scholarship, awarded to a deserving woman ACCA student in Nepal, covers the costs of exams, tuition, and annual subscription fees for a whole year from the date the scholarship is awarded, with a new winner being selected annually.
Ummed’s son Abhijay Jain said: “Dad was always a champion of women’s education and we are delighted that his legacy lives on via this scholarship. We are grateful for the support given by ACCA in the UK and in Nepal to launch this initiative and we look forward to supporting the next generation of ACCA students in the years to come.”
Applications to apply for the annual scholarship opened in February 2021, with each applicant asked to detail how the scholarship would make a positive contribution to their career, community, and the overall accountancy profession. A total of 65 students shared their passions, dreams, and aspirations for the future in a short essay.
Dikshya Lama has been selected to receive the inaugural scholarship. Dikshya has been an ACCA student since 2018 and has completed 7 of her exams to date. In her essay submission she likens her education journey to coffee, both essential in her life, bittersweet at times, but with a rewarding feeling after.
