Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) held a job fair for the Class of 2025 on Friday, July 18, as part of its efforts to bridge the gap between education and employment. The annual event held for the third time at Kigali Marriott Hotel, aimed to connect students with stakeholders in the agriculture sector, so they can transition smoothly from school to the workforce. This cohort, RICA’s third, is set to graduate on September 19. ALSO READ: Top four RICA 2024 graduates share agricultural aspirations According to Olusegun Adedayo Yerokun, the Interim Vice Chancellor at RICA, the job fair allows students to connect with potential employers and apply their skills to advance Rwanda’s agricultural development. “We consider this very important because we’re able to bring together a large number of stakeholders who can engage and interact with our students. It’s a way of continuing toward the impact we desire for our graduates in Rwanda,” he added. The Bachelor of Science in Conservation Agriculture at RICA is a three-year programme that includes a six-month internship. Yerokun said the job fair was part of a broader strategy to ensure students are workforce-ready and aligned with national development goals. “Our students spend 50 per cent of their time in the field, in the lab, essentially in hands-on learning. The feedback from employers and internship hosts has been largely positive. They find our students to be relevant to the industry, with a strong work ethic and practical skills, enabling them to fit into companies almost immediately.” “The Rwandan government wants students who can transform agricultural produce into value-added products. At RICA, students are trained in enterprises such as food processing. They learn to make cheese, yoghurt, fruit juice, and animal feed all on campus,” he added. ALSO READ: Kagame tasks RICA graduates to find agricultural solutions for Africa’s economic growth This is the third time RICA has held a job fair for its students, with each cohort participating as part of their final year. So far, 93 per cent of the first cohort and 76 per cent of the second are engaged in work, further studies, or personal projects. Tresor Mabano, a crop production student at RICA, said stakeholders shared their contact details so students could apply and stay connected for opportunities. He said that the institute doesn’t only train students to seek jobs, it also empowers them to create their own. “That’s why they invited banks to the job fair, so students can learn about loans, credit options, and other forms of financial support that can help them start or grow their own businesses,” he said. RICA’s academic programme includes an intensive six-month internship that sets it apart from other institutions in the country. “This hands-on experience prepares us to enter the workforce ready to perform. Employers don’t need to train us from scratch, we already have real-world experience,” Mabano explained. Ritha Mahoro, a food processing student at RICA, said: “I’m very excited to go out and apply what I’ve learned at RICA and during my internship. I’m eager to contribute to other companies as well.” ALSO READ: Agriculture dominated Rwanda’s job market in quarter one of 2025 Several of her classmates have already been hired, some during their internships, and others during the job fair itself. “This gives us all hope. Not only are we confident that we’ll get hired, but we’re also learning a lot from the companies that are here today,” she said. Deborah Uwamahoro, the Human Resources Lead and Executive Advisor at Masaka Farms, said RICA students possess strong academic knowledge and practical job readiness. The company already employs several RICA graduates. “We’ve worked with them before, and they adjust easily to fieldwork and require very little supervision. They come with experience and are highly innovative,” she added. Uwamahoro said RICA students have a strong understanding of production and quality processes and integrate well with the team. “60 per cent of our workforce consists of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, yet RICA students work alongside them effectively and even share their knowledge.”
