University students can now withdraw money and make cashless payments directly, as their bank accounts are now linked to Airtel Money. This enhancement enables fee-free digital transactions, helping cut charges and the time spent in bank queues. During the Minuza Festival held on December 6 at the University of Rwanda, Huye Campus, Rwanda Development Bank (BRD), which administers the student loan and bursary scheme for higher education, hosted an engagement event aimed at helping students access their monthly stipend without any charges. ALSO READ: Airtel launches festive season line-up, teams up with Israel Mbonyi The campaign was accompanied by entertainment to make the experience enjoyable as students pursue their dreams through supported education. “We came specifically to mobilise them on the benefits of linking their bank accounts with Airtel Money,” noted John Magara Gahakwa, Head of Brand and Communications at Airtel Rwanda. “It will help them access their money directly as soon as it is deposited into their account and the first three transactions of any payment are free.” “We want them to stay connected within the Minuza platform. Even when the time comes to repay the loan, they can use Airtel Money,” he said. “We also brought ‘Ikokinge’ packs. For example, you can use Rwf100 and get 100 minutes of airtime, or Rwf200 for 350 minutes valid for two days, and more. On Sundays, you get 1,000 minutes, with 800 for Airtel-to-Airtel calls and the remaining 200 to other networks. You simply dial *255#, confirm, and follow the prompts,” he explained. “We want Rwandans to enjoy the festive season filled with joy, meaningful connections, and memorable experiences,” he said. The launch of the Minuza Festival also included integrated service provision for students’ personal information, with officials from National Identification Agency (NIDA), Higher Education Council (HEC), and National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) present to ensure that all the necessary details were captured for students to receive their entitlements. They also put required measures in place on time, an approach expected to be extended to other campuses across the country. Wilson Rurangwa, Head of the Education Department at BRD, said that together with partners, the goal is to place students at the top of the priority list so that everything is done to support and facilitate their education. “Since its inception, the Minuza platform has been very important. Before it, BRD would receive over 300 students registering for loans, and the process took up to two months. But now, we receive only two to three students, which has reduced unnecessary movements during enrolment,” he explained. “Airtel has supported us since the launch of Minuza in 2022. So far, over 35,000 students are using the BRD bursary, and they can also repay their loans through Airtel,” he said. “We commend BRD for coming down to the ground. It means a lot. We usually face issues with registrations, names, loans, and other obstacles that affect our students on campus,” said Ignatius Kabagambe, Head of Communication, Internationalization, and Alumni at UR. “These government institutions made a good decision to be here and solve them directly on the ground,” he added. Kabagambe said that previously, there was too much bureaucracy, where each institution worked on its own while others lagged behind. The aim now is to eliminate unnecessary movements for a student to access services. “We are looking forward to ending all those back-and-forth movements. Institutions will now offer integrated services at once. We also commend Airtel Rwanda for its initiative, which has made it easier for our students to access their money fee-free. All of this is meant to improve their welfare,” he said.
