- Lizzie Wanyoike started as a Principal before she went on to found NIBS College
- Her other well known businesses are Emory Hotel and Lizzie Wanyoike Preparatory And Senior School
Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS) founder Lizzie Wanyoike was an educationist, businesswoman and philanthropist who touched many lives with her kindness.
The entrepreneur, who died on January 14, 2024, dared to dream and with baby steps went on to found notable business in the country.
WoK takes a look at the businesses Lizzie Wanyoike owned and the amount of money she pumped in.
NIBS College
The celebrated educationist founded NIBS with an initial capital of Ksh10 million. At the time she had only 25 students. Prior to this, Lizzie was a principal and tutor at a city college.
Speaking to the Standard, she said that during her time teaching she realized the need to introduce more courses-some of which were completely new in the market.
She approached the management with what she thought was a brilliant idea but it was rejected.
“I was pushing for introduction of more courses other than secretarial units, to meet the growing demand for education, but the management would not listen,” she said. “And even though the institution was making profit, I was concerned about the growing demand for training in other areas,” she told the publication.
This is what spurred her to found NIBS. Over the years, the college has grown and has an enrolment of over 7,000 learners. She invested another Ksh250 million to expand the institution.
It has campuses in Thika Town, Ong’ata Rongai, Kimbo, Ruiru and Nairobi Central Business District.
Her three children who were living abroad came back to assist in running the growing empire.
Emory Hotel
This is a four star hotel located in Kileleshwa. The hotel cost a whopping Ksh450 million to construct. In a past interview, Lizzie said the 72 room hotel will also offer NIBS hospitality students practical skills, attachment and employment. (Here is a separate story on Emory Hotel).
Lizzie Wanyoike Preparatory & Senior School
Her success with NIBS college was probably the inspiration for starting Lizzie Wanyoike Preparatory and Senior Schools. In the 2023 KCPE exams, Sharon Wambui Kibira, a student from the institution was among the top 20 candidates nationally with 412 marks.
