SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA — The Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM) has started offering free training to workers of the Southern Province districts.

"Each of the eight districts in the province will choose a specific area of need and RIAM will offer free training, research and consultancy as a commitment to improvising capacity building needs in the districts," Marc Kabandana, the Director General of RIAM, said during the launch of the courses last week at Murambi.

Kabandana observed that the presence of the institute has contributed to national skills development and capacity building through training human resource in public and private sector, undertaking research and consultancy programmes.

Speaking at the same function, the Governor of the Southern Province, Fidele Ndayisaba and the Secretary General in the Public Service Ministry lauded RIAM for promoting human resource development and creating a knowledge-based society.

Emmanuel Muvunyi, a RIAM Board Chairman, revealed that the institute has a new master-plan of increasing its infrastructure in a bid to meet public demands.

"We have plans to succeed and it is never too late…more human capacity will be trained in the South and RIAM will be the centre of development with more facilities and services according to the new master-plan," Muvunyi said.

Some of the facilities to be put in place include a library, swimming pool, classrooms and conference halls and an internal information system for e-learning.

Since 2001, the RIAM model has been focusing on training, research and consultancy programmes which have benefited both the private and public sector.

At least 50 Rwandans have graduated in Masters Programmes in Public Administration and Public Sector Management at RIAM centre, while various local leaders and private employees and employers have undergone short induction courses.

Ends