The Adventist University of Central Africa Kigali, Masoro campus has graduated 391 students in its 27th undergraduate and 5th postgraduate ceremony on Sunday, November 14. The University awarded 36 candidates a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Education whereas the rest have secured an undergraduate degree in different disciplines ranging from business, IT, education and nursing among others. Each outstanding performer from 5 faculties was given a laptop and a 12-month internship by Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) while Bank of Kigali awarded Rwf 1 million saving account to two IT students and one business student plus internship. Fifty-six percent of the graduates were females. The ceremony was attended by different dignitaries from the government of Rwanda, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, academicians, students and parents. Addressing the graduates, Dr. Zeno Charles-Marcel, the Health Ministries Associate Director at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, he championed the students to use the skills acquired and achieve more than the current generation. “To whom much is given, much is required. This is not an easy thing, the journey has been long, so that means you owe something big to your families, community and the country,” he said. Dr. Zeno also asked them for decision-making wisdom to choose what is right from wrong: “Will you be leaders or bosses? Will you be gentle even to those who criticize you? Will you keep on being agents of peace and ambassadors of Shalom?” he questioned them. He, therefore, asked them to always stand for the right even during tough times and uphold persistence in this world of ‘evil’ desires. “Fight corruption and other practices that are a result of evil desires that lead people to search wealth instead of spirit, that cause people a wish to get instead of sharing, that want to reap without sowing and are in need of leading but not following,” he noted. Dr Zeno added that self-control and patience should be added to the knowledge they obtained, which only come as a gift of the holy spirit. AUCA is the 1st private university to be founded in Rwanda with a reputation for producing the best IT graduates in the country. International students attending AUCA account for 8 percent of the total students population, coming from 24 countries of Africa and Asia. Officiating the ceremony, Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister of Education urged the members of the outgoing class to maximise their potentials, as new entrants to the Rwandan market. “To the school, never ever depart from your landmarks, but instead keep raising up your standards, and to the students, always strive to be the heads not the tails, the first not the last, and be above not beneath,” she stressed. “And lastly, may you live to enjoy the fruits of your labour and have reasons to celebrate more,”. Uwamariya then commended AUCA’s contribution in the education sector, describing the institution as the government’s partner to achieve its noble vision of 2050. “We regard you as partners in growth and manpower development for this great nation, because of several features that distinguish you from other public and private institutions,” she added. Speaking to the students, AUCA Vice-Chancellor Professor Kelvin Onongha, he also asked them to keep the skills obtained beneficial to the society. “This ceremony is a symbol that you’ve been qualified to serve, you have the status not only to serve, but serve with diligence. So, act as the main community contributors and hold high all you’ve learnt here,” he said. On behalf of students, one of the awarded students in Software Engineering, Kausar Fatema also testified to the hard work of AUCA’s staff which he described as factors that made them to where they stand today. “We are very glad of the tireless work of our university staff to see us growing, preparing us for the job market, and shaping our identities as we stand today. We also promise to make you proud,” she commended. AUCA has more than three decades’ experience in education and over 25,000 students have passed through the school. It holds a faculty of IT, Business Administration, Theology and the recently added Health sciences. Apart from Rwanda’s Higher Education Council, AUCA’s programmes are also accredited by the churches international accrediting bodies (International Board of Education (IBE) and Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA). The accreditation exercise is conducted every 4 years to evaluate the compliance to the standards of quality education. Outstanding performers were awarded. Different dignitaries and outstanding students pose for a photo during the graduation on November 14.
