President Paul Kagame yesterday told a gathering of Mercer University Stetson School of Business that Rwanda's development agenda is premised on investing in the people and empowering them to participate in shaping the country's future.
President Paul Kagame yesterday told a gathering of Mercer University Stetson School of Business that Rwanda’s development agenda is premised on investing in the people and empowering them to participate in shaping the country’s future.
In an interactive discussion moderated by Ed Baker, editor of Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kagame highlighted Rwanda’s vision and available business opportunities in the country.
(President Kagame addresses Stetson Business School at Mercer University in Atlanta. Source: Paul Kagame/YouTube)
"Vision 2020 is premised on investing in our people and developing our people. That is why we are focused on measuring how fast and how far we are moving in the direction we want,” the President said.
He attributed the choice of Rwanda’s vision to lessons from the country’s past and emphasized the importance of citizen participation in shaping the future of their country.
"We were very conscious of where we were coming from and what needed to be changed—our mindset. We fought against genocide and when we took responsibility, we made sure that we did everything possible to make every Rwandan feel that they have a stake in what is happening in the country. People used to wait for people to do the work for them. We said no, it has to start with us. The others can help but only if you are doing something,” he said.
The President also addressed Rwanda’s efforts to attain self-reliance. "We may not want aid, but we need it. [And] the best way to use it is in a way that we need less of it.”
The event, attended by over 100 MBA students, also used as the occasion to launch the university’s latest Mercer on Mission Service Initiative, which will take place in Rwanda.
The initiative will be a three-week study abroad and service-learning led by Dr. Etienne Musonera, associate professor of marketing and Dr. Gerry Mills, graduate program director and lecturer in health management. During the three weeks, students will get involved with AVEGA-Agahozo (the Association of the Genocide Widows of Rwanda) and Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.