Bank of Kigali has awarded the best performing students who graduated this year from the Institute of Applied Sciences . 

At the graduation ceremony held on Friday March 11, the top three performers with first class honours were awarded Rwf1 million each.

"As our motto is, 'financially transforming lives,' we decided to award the best performers as support for their projects after university studies,"Jean de Dieu Habanintwari, BK Regional Branch Manager, said.

"We would like to see their projects become bigger and continue to work with Bank of Kigali. Generally, we want to encourage other young people to work hard in all their activities."

Samuel Mutuyimana, who graduated from civil engineering, said he will invest the money in his own business.

"Currently, I'm working as an assistant lecturer at INES-Ruhengeri and I plan to start my own business. I'm thankful to BK for this award, it will be my startup capital," Mutuyimana said.

For Gikumi Ukwitegetse, who got a degree in industrial information technology, BK's award came at a time she was planning to start an income-generating activity.

"With the money, I'll buy equipment for my agribusiness startup. I am a customer of Bank of Kigali, and I am grateful that they have given me this award."

Emmeline Batamuriza graduated from the department of land administration and management. 

Batamuriza said: "Though I graduated with first class, I didn't expect this Rwf1 million award. The money will help me when I start my postgraduate studies as a land valuer. I thank BK very much for their recognition."

Out of 872 students who graduated from INES-Ruhengeri, more 400 were female.