The Capital Market Authority of Rwanda (CMA), together with all market players, launched a nationwide campaign aimed at educating university students on investment opportunities available in Rwanda’s capital market while they are still in school. The campaign was officially launched on May 16, 2025, at the Nyagatare campus of the East African University Rwanda (EAUR). This outreach is being conducted under the Capital Market Youth Forum, a platform dedicated to engaging youth in capital market education. Organised in partnership with several stakeholders, the campaign will continue across various university campuses throughout the country. During the session, students were introduced to key concepts in finance and investment, including how to save by investing, and were encouraged to share their perspectives and questions as they gained clarity on these opportunities. Freddy Rukundo, an accounting student, shared his takeaway from the event: “I used to think that investing required more than Rwf 100,000, but now I’ve learned it’s possible to start with less. I’ve registered to begin investing on the capital market, and I believe by the time I graduate, I’ll already have some savings, which will make it easier for me to enter the job market.” Esperance Muhoza, another student who registered as an investor, expressed her enthusiasm: “As students, we often receive small allowances from our parents. I now realise I can set aside a portion of that and begin saving through the capital market. Once I graduate, I’ll use that money, possibly in partnership with others, to start a venture.” David Mugabo, a Business Administration student and student representative at EAUR, said his peers were impressed by CMA’s practical approach to investor education, which showed them that they could begin investing with the limited means they currently have. “This has opened our eyes to many opportunities and strengthened our belief in securing our financial future,” he said. Dr James Ndahiro, Technical Advisor at CMA, emphasised that youth should focus on cultivating a culture of saving rather than being limited by their current financial capacity. “Saving is a habit that must be developed early to face future challenges,” he noted. “We gave the example of China, where people save before they spend, even if it means tightening their belts. If such a culture worked elsewhere, it can work in Rwanda too. We must shift away from the mind-set that investing is only possible after meeting all other needs.” Emmanuel Masantura Ruziga, Senior Marketing and Sales Manager at RNIT Iterambere Fund—one of the CMA’s partners in the campaign—stated that more effort is needed to reach segments of the population that have yet to adopt a saving culture. “A section of the population has been left behind, and it will take considerable effort to reach them. But we believe that instilling this culture starts with the youth. We also plan to engage with the Ministry of Education to explore how this can go beyond awareness and be integrated into the national curriculum,” he said. This month-long outreach will culminate in a national gathering of participants from the Capital Market Youth Forum on June 20, 2025, in Kigali. Students from across the country will convene for a comprehensive investment education session.
