Rwandans across the country yesterday met in their respective villages to celebrate national heroes and heroines and recognise their unselfish service to the country.

As we continue to pay glowing tribute to the brave men and women that laid down their lives and those that continue to lead from the front in service of our country, it is imperative that everyone defines what their role will be toward consolidation of the fruits of heroism.

Each one of us in our respective professions and sectors has a stake in making Rwanda a far greater nation, one that every citizen will be happy to call home and a beacon of hope in Africa and the world.

But we cannot successfully walk in the footsteps of our heroes and help deliver the promise of turning Rwanda into the country we all want it to be without taking concrete steps to transform ourselves – at personal, household and community level.

Transformation starts with the willingness to succeed and the right mindset. Once this is in place, then you need to translate it into action. At a personal level, we need to embrace a culture of excellence and reject mediocrity – whether you are a service provider or consumer.

This is as true in everyday life as it is in any profession.

Heroism is not a virtue reserved only for those willing to forego everything and go to the battlefield to fight for the common good. Rather it is a lifestyle that should be cherished and upheld even during peacetime.

Whether you are a smallholder farmer, a teacher, a businessperson, a community worker, an activist, a medical professional or politician, you can become a hero or heroine in your generation by pursuing excellence in whatever you do.

And that’s something Rwanda badly needs at this time when she bids to achieve a middle-income economy status in the next few years. Every Rwandan has an opportunity to make their contribution count in our continued struggle for economic independence.