Twenty-five apprentices have successfully completed the Republic Bank Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme 2025/2026.
The seven-month programme is designed to bridge the gap between secondary school and the working environment.
Valedictorians Karena Samaroo and Levi Toppin shared some of the key skills they gained.
“It taught us so many valuable skills, like working in teams, public speaking, working with different personalities, and even gaining insight into the institution and how it operates.”
Managing Director of Republic Bank Limited, Nigel Baptiste, urged participants to pursue their purpose and face challenges with courage.
“Having a purpose is one thing, but you must be able to get things done. The corporate world is littered with those who can talk a good game. Very few of those can also act. Be a doer, not a talker. Go after the challenges, go after what others would prefer to avoid.”
For graduates Daniel Baah and Ashlee Moonah, the programme provided valuable exposure to the banking sector.
“My favourite department, well, one of my favourites, was actually commercial, where they were doing the financial statements, and I realised that I like to analyse those things.”
“I learnt a lot of skills, a lot of technical skills, and a lot of knowledge in terms of banking and finance, in terms of assessing company and customer accounts, as well as helping serve customers for what they need, like customer relations.”
Feature speaker, radio broadcaster and social media personality Shevonne Metivier, reminded all graduates that success is rarely a predictable climb but urged them to continue tapping into their potential.