The energy at the just-concluded Capital Markets Youth Forum 2026 was unmistakable. From the students’ enthusiasm to the competitive spirit displayed during the University Challenge, one message came through clearly: Rwanda’s young people are ready to learn, participate, and take their place in shaping their country’s economic future.

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This is exactly why such platforms matter. Far beyond merely calendar events, they are opportunities to speak directly to a generation that will inherit the responsibility of building Rwanda’s next frontier of growth. More importantly, they are spaces where we demystify capital markets and show young people that investing is not a preserve of the wealthy, the elderly, or those already established in business. It is a discipline that can, and should, begin early.

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For a long time, young people grew up with the misconception that investment begins only when one has accumulated large sums of money. This belief has kept many away from formal investment opportunities. The reality is that the most important step in investing is not the size of the first contribution, but the decision to begin.

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Money that sits idle loses value over time. Inflation silently erodes purchasing power. What Rwf10,000 can buy today will most likely not be the same in a few years. This means that saving alone, while important, is not enough. Young people must also learn how to put their savings to work through productive investment. A culture of saving must be matched by a culture of investing.

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It is also important to appreciate that today’s youth have opportunities that previous generations did not have. For many of my generation, the infrastructure to save and invest through organised capital markets was non-existent. Today, Rwanda has built the institutions, systems, products, and regulatory framework that make it possible for a student, a young professional, or a young entrepreneur to participate in the country’s capital markets.

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This is a privilege and a responsibility. Rwanda created the platform and the question before us is whether young people will seize it.

The capital market is not as distant or complex as many imagine. It offers a range of instruments suitable for different needs, income levels, and risk appetites. Through shares, young people can become part-owners of companies listed on Rwanda Stock Exchange.

Through treasury bonds, they can lend to government while earning a return and supporting national development. Through collective investment schemes such as Rwanda National Investment Trust (RNIT), one can start investing with as little as Rwf2,000. This is a powerful message: you do not need to be rich to start investing; you need the discipline to start small and stay consistent.

The recently launched Green Exchange Window adds another important opportunity. It allows investors to support projects and products that contribute to environmental sustainability while also participating in Rwanda’s economic growth. For a generation that is increasingly conscious of climate change and sustainable development, this is particularly relevant. Young people can now align their financial ambitions with their values by investing in products that contribute to a greener and more resilient future.

Capital markets are also an important school for entrepreneurship. At Rwanda Stock Exchange, we often say that the market is not only about buying and selling securities. It is about understanding how money moves, how businesses raise capital, and how pooled resources can be channeled into productive sectors. For young people who aspire to create jobs rather than only seek them, this knowledge is indispensable.

No business can grow without capital. No entrepreneur can scale an idea without understanding how resources are mobilised. By learning how capital markets work, young people gain insight into how companies expand, how investors assess opportunities, and how economies finance long-term growth.

This is why youth participation in capital markets must be treated as a national priority. The earlier young people are exposed to saving, investing, and entrepreneurship, the more likely they are to build habits that serve them throughout their lives.

The writer is the CEO of Rwanda Stock Exchange.