Jean de Dieu Niyonzima, a student at the Educational Institute for Blind Children in Nyaruguru District, who has a visual impairment, was among the namers at Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony held in Musanze District on Friday, September 5. ALSO READ: Rwanda names baby gorillas for 20th time The ceremony, marking its 20th edition was graced by various namers including renowned global celebrities from different countries. It was also attended by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva, alongside other government officials, business leaders, conservationists, and thousands of community members living around Volcanoes National Park. Niyonzima, who stood on stage as one of the namers, demonstrated his ability despite living with a disability. Last year, during the release of national examination results, he was ranked fifth among the top performers of 2023-2024 ordinary level national exams. ALSO READ: Visually impaired student among top performers in national exams While naming, he expressed his gratitude for being part of the event. He gave the name Terimbere, meaning “Progress,” to a baby gorilla born on December 3, 2023, to mother Ikirenga. “This name honours his grandfather, a dominant silverback of the Susa family, remembered for his tolerance and peaceful leadership.” ALSO READ: Kwita Izina: PM Nsengiyumva urges expansion of gorilla habitat We hope this young gorilla will inherit those traits, growing in harmony with his family, peaceful leadership, tolerance, wisdom, and providing other wisdom skills to his members, he added. “So the message that I can give to others is that disability cannot limit our dreams,” he said, citing his presence on the naming stage as an example. He added that, as a student at the educational institute for blind children, the moment carried particular significance for him. “I would like to say that our dreams have no boundaries, because everyone can achieve his disability, his goals despite of his disability.” During this year’s Kwita Izina, 40 baby gorillas were given names, bringing the total number named since 2005 to 438.
