Capital Market Authority is this week set to introduce a new capital market awareness campaign targeting university students.

The initiative dubbed "University Challenge” targets students as part of the capital market regulator’s systematic public education program launched two years ago.

According to the Operations Manager of CMA, Celestine Rwabukumba, the program will help educate university students about the concept of capital market and its benefits to the economy in general.

"CMA has now developed a new approach to this campaign now by targeting the youth. The scheme will initially run in 10 universities and higher institutions of learning in the country but subsequently will become an annual event, attracting other institutions at different levels, including secondary schools,” Rwabukumba explained.

Rwabukumba informed that the public educational program have paid off, with high appetite registered recently amongst Rwandans in both the Bralirwa and BK Initial Public Offers (IPOs).

"The new youth program will encourage students into forming savings clubs and invest in the future,” Rwabukumba noted.

The initiative has two competitive components which include ‘Essay Writing’ and the CMA TV Quiz.

"The essay writing contest will be on a selected topic related to the capital markets in Rwanda while the quiz will test students’ knowledge about the same,” he informed 

As part of the competitive process, participating institutions will be required to set up investment clubs, guided by a professional broker of their choice.

Participation is open to all students from participating universities. Each contestant will only be able to participate in either of the two contests but not both. 

While as many students will be competing in essay writing, participating universities will select three of their best students to compete in the TV Quiz.

Winners will be awarded at a special gala night event. Awards include trophies, share certificates, internship with various industry players like CMA, Rwanda Stock Exchange, commercial banks, among others.

Rwabukumba also informed that the authority plans to organise a regional university challenge competition which will involve capital markets of the EAC member states.

University challenge competition will be conducted by ‘MPRESS Africa Communications, a local public relations firm on behalf of CMA. 

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