Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has challenged graduates of the 16th cohort of Itorero Indangamirwa civic programme to use the opportunities available to their generation to take Rwanda beyond the progress achieved by those who came before them. He made the remarks on Monday, August 10, while speaking at the graduation of 769 young people who completed the civic education programme, which brought together young Rwandans from diverse backgrounds, at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre in Gabiro, Gatsibo District. Nsengiyumva said the responsibilities facing today's youth are different from those of the generation that liberated the country and rebuilt the country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Kagame tasks Itorero youth to protect Rwanda’s progress “Your responsibility, therefore, is to protect what has been achieved and build upon it, taking the country far beyond where you found it, so that you can leave your descendants with an inheritance greater than the one you received,” he said. He told the graduates that, unlike the generation that found a country devastated by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, they have grown up in a Rwanda with a strong foundation, greater opportunities and a promising future. He noted that the youth that liberated Rwanda ushered in a new era. “Their bravery was demonstrated through rebuilding the country, restoring unity among Rwandans and laying a strong foundation for the development Rwanda has achieved today,” Nsengiyumva said. “Your responsibility today does not necessarily begin with extraordinary achievements, but with the choices you make every day and the kind of people you choose to become. Be honest in everything you do, even when nobody is watching, respect yourselves and others, keep your word and maintain the discipline to choose what is right even when easier alternatives are available,” he said. ALSO READ: Kagame tasks Itorero youth to protect Rwanda’s progress “This may sound like a great responsibility, and indeed it is. But you have exceptional opportunities because you have a strong foundation on which to build.” Nsengiyumva said the world in which today’s youth are growing up offers more opportunities than previous generations had, but that also comes with greater distractions and temptations. He said navigating these competing influences will test the values and discipline the graduates acquired during Itorero. “Often, you will find that doing the right thing will be difficult. That is where your values and your character as Intore will be demonstrated,” he said. The six-week programme exposed the participants to lessons and activities aimed at strengthening discipline, perseverance, teamwork and integrity, as well as helping them understand the country's history and the sacrifices that shaped the Rwanda they know today. ALSO READ: ‘Be problem solvers, not complainers,’ Kagame tells youth Nsengiyumva urged the graduates to carry those lessons beyond the training centre rather than treating them as something that ends with the programme. “Make sure you do not leave this inheritance here in Gabiro. Instead, take it with you to your families, schools, workplaces, among your neighbours and everywhere else you go,” he said. The Prime Minister said the 769 graduates represent a generation with diverse talents, ambition and opportunities that can be turned into meaningful contributions to the country's development. “You are a generation with different talents, the determination to go far and more opportunities than those who came before you. Everything you need to become outstanding in your lives and in your country is already within your reach,” he said. He acknowledged that the country and parents expect much from the young people, but urged them to leave the programme with the same confidence that others have placed in them. Nsengiyumva also reminded them that completing Itorero should not be viewed as the conclusion of their civic responsibility. “As you complete Itorero and continue with your responsibilities, I would like to remind you that this is not the end, rather, it is the beginning of new responsibilities,” he said. He encouraged the graduates to use what they learned to contribute wherever life takes them, echoing a message President Paul Kagame had shared with them during his visit to Gabiro on July 28. “As you leave this centre and return to different destinations around Rwanda and the world, go with ambition, discipline, and integrity. Aim high, stand tall with dignity, believe in your ability to solve problems, and use what you have learned to build a stronger Rwanda and a better future wherever life takes you,” he said. The participants, aged between 18 and 23, came from diverse backgrounds, including Rwandans living or studying abroad, students from international secondary schools, university students and top-performing graduates of the 13th Inkomezabigwi Urugerero National Service Programme. Throughout the programme, participants have taken part in lectures and discussions led by senior government officials and security officers, focusing on civic values, leadership, patriotism and national development. They have also visited key historical sites, including the Kiziguro Genocide Memorial and the Mulindi Liberation Museum in Gicumbi District, to deepen their understanding of Rwanda's history and the country's liberation journey.
