We will not allow this country to go to waste, Kagame tells youth

President Kagame has called on the youth to play their part in upholding the culture of unity, accountability and thinking big to ensure the country continues to achieve its goals of socio-economic transformation for all Rwandans.

The Head of State was speaking, yesterday, at the closure of civic education training programme (Itorero) for university students in a ceremony held at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The weeklong training programme for the students dubbed, “Intagamburuzwa,” brought together over 2000 students from both public and private high learning institutions.

It aimed at equipping trainees with leadership and entrepreneurial skills, and patriotism, among others.

It also aimed at sharpening the students’ skills in the savings culture for future investment, leveraging ICT to create jobs, embracing agro-processing and highlighting their role in consolidating security.

The Head of State encouraged the students to never limit their ambitions and to work hard towards achieving them.

“Our country may be small but our people think big. Our ideas will not be limited by the confines our borders,” he said.

“We will not allow this country to go to waste. The strength of thinking and the skills of the youth in this room and across the country cannot go to waste. We do not want to be a country of wasted abilities and skills,” Kagame added.

President Kagame emphasised to the youth that the essence of trainings, such as Itorero, is to instill in them core values to help them grow a mindset of developing the country and not to be contented with the status quo.

He reminded the students that Itorero serves as an opportunity to learn that unity is essential for development and called on participants to take ownership and responsibility in shaping the country’s future.

“Education is what shapes our identity but who you become will be a result of how hard you choose to work,” Kagame added.

He further encouraged the youth to speak up for their beliefs and against those who work to undermine the peace, unity and development that has been registered over the past two decades.

The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, attended the event, which also attracted other senior government officials.

Eustache Ndayisaba, who spoke on behalf of the students, said Itorero was important because it encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities ahead of them to develop themselves and the nation as a whole.

“We commit to work hard and do research, especially in ICT and agriculture. We have learnt that we should not ignore small jobs but rather start from what we are, be creative and become entrepreneurs,” he said.

According to Boniface Rucagu, chairman of the National Itorero Commission, this third intake of Itorero brought together 2,090 students, including 680 females.

The New Times

UM– USEKE.RW