Seventeen-year-old Tresor Henock Izere from Rwamagana District was the top performer in the 2024–2025 Ordinary Level national examinations with a score of 98.67 percent. A student at Es EFOTEC Kanombe, Izere, attributes his success to discipline, balance of subjects, and the support of his parents. ALSO READ: Maths, Physics record lowest scores in 2024–2025 national exams “I don’t think what I did was very different from what other students did. I studied hard and gave attention to all subjects instead of focusing on just one. Mathematics was the hardest, but I worked on it alongside physics and the rest,” he said in media interview. Izere said he received a call from the Ministry of Education informing him of his result a day before the announcement, and it overjoyed him with his family. His parents, both educators, have been central to his journey. His father is a headmaster, and his mother is a teacher. “They paid my fees, made sure I studied in good schools, and supported me in my everyday life. They are hardworking, and they are my role models,” he said. ALSO READ: National exams: A closer look at performance of girls vs boys The fifth of six children, Izere grew up with ambitions that changed over time. As a child, he wanted to be a footballer, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese professional footballer. That childhood dream has since changed. Today, Izere is focused on information technology (IT), a field he believes offers limitless opportunities for the future. “I like IT, and that’s where the world is heading. Rwanda is advancing its technology and innovation sector, creating space for young people to build meaningful careers.” He draws inspiration from Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, saying that starting SpaceX required courage and new ideas. Izere added that Musk’s achievements show how creativity and persistence can turn ambitious ideas into reality. Away from books, Izere spends his free time playing basketball, but only for leisure and fun, noting that he has no plans to pursue it as a profession. He advises fellow students to start preparing for exams early, from Senior 1 instead of waiting until Senior 3, noting that the effort they put in will pay off. His father, Jean Christopher Karumuhinzi, said his son had dreamed from a young age of being among the top students and appearing on TV, inspired by the joy and recognition that top performers received. “When he was young, he admired being among the top 10 performers. We advised him that achieving this would require dedication and hard work. Now he has accomplished what he longed for, and as parents, we are extremely proud,” he said. Karumuhinzi described his son as disciplined and highly driven, noting that supporting him has been easy. As educators, they plan to continue guiding him through A-Level and university, remaining involved in his journey while encouraging him to aim even higher.
