The National Bank of Rwanda has concluded its annual school quiz competition, a vibrant initiative aimed at promoting financial literacy and economic awareness among Rwanda’s youth. This year’s edition saw 44 schools from across the country compete in a two months-long challenge, culminating in a thrilling grand finale last week. After intense rounds of intellectual face-offs, St Ignatius High School from Kigali emerged victorious, followed closely by College du Christ Roi from Nyanza District. The two schools were crowned at the central bank headquarters in Kigali after advancing through regional selections, quarter-finals, and semi-finals that began in February. Speaking at the finale, on Wednesday, the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, Soraya M. Hakuziyaremye, emphasized the competition’s broader mission beyond just trophies and certificates. “Through this challenge, we aim to demystify our work but also give tools to better understand economic indicators and the economic decisions that affect your daily lives,” she said. “We believe that financial literacy is a form of empowerment that helps build a stronger and more informed generation.” Hakuziyaremye underscored that the initiative is about sowing seeds of curiosity and ambition. “Beyond simplifying complex economic ideas, this is about planting seeds,” she added. “We want to spark a deeper interest in economics and finance, and nurture the next generation of Rwandan economists and policymakers. Of course, we also hope some of today’s finalists will one day join the National Bank of Rwanda as future central bankers.” The competition not only highlighted the brilliance of students but also the vital role of educators. The governor extended her gratitude to teachers and school leaders for their unwavering support throughout the rounds. St Ignatius High School was awarded the champion's trophy and certificate, while each student received a laptop and Rwf400,000, to be invested in government securities by the central bank. Runners-up College du Christ Roi received a trophy and certificate as well, with each student also receiving a laptop and Rwf200,000 for investment in government securities. Teachers who accompanied students through the competition from both schools were also rewarded—Rwf400,000 and Rwf300,000 respectively—to be similarly invested. The Minister of Education, Joseph Nsengimana, who attended the finale, lauded the initiative and congratulated all participants for their dedication and enthusiasm. “The work that has been done and the interest that’s being generated across the country—it’s remarkable,” he said. “Some of the questions were so challenging. These students have truly impressed me. This is one way of encouraging the students to take interest in various sectors of the economy and also to encourage them to pursue their studies so that they can contribute to the development of the country,” he said. The minister recognized the efforts of all participating schools. “There were many schools that didn’t make it to the final stage, but in truth, they are all winners. They've expanded their knowledge, gained insight into Rwanda’s economic framework, and grown in ways that matter,” he said. Lauren Keza, 18, a student from the winning team at St Ignatius High School, said: “This school quiz challenge was a great motivation for me as an economics student. It helped me understand more about how my central bank works and really made me want to study economics even further. I hope to one day work with the central bank.” The competition began on February 10 with preliminary rounds across all provinces, followed by the quarterfinals and semi-finals held on March 12.
