At the 19th Kwita Izina ceremony, a remarkable young girl named Elvine Ineza, 13, made history as the youngest namer ever to participate in the prestigious event.

The annual event, whose 2023 edition took place on Friday, September 1, celebrates the naming of baby gorillas born in the previous 12 months.

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Ineza, a former student at Regina Pacis School in Musanze District, lives with her grandparents and is an only child. Her grandmother, who also happens to work at her former school, would commute with her to and from school every day.

Raised with love and support, she has always stood out academically. Throughout her primary school years, she consistently scored above 85% overall.

Darius Ngendahayo, the prefect of studies at her former primary school, attests to her remarkable academic excellence, with Ineza never once ranking below first place throughout her six-year journey.

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She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including her recent triumph in the 2023 Competition of all primary six candidates within the Diocese of Ruhengeri, where she emerged as the winner. Additionally, she was the overall second-place winner in the Andika Rwanda National competition, having excelled from the school level up to the provincial level in the Northern Province.

Despite her age, Ineza possesses remarkable confidence and leadership skills. She has taken the initiative to organise cleaning activities at her school and is popular among her peers for her sociability.

While Ineza's academic pursuits occupy much of her time, she is also a football enthusiast. Despite her petite stature, she is said to exude determination on the field while having fun. In her leisure time, she often engages in banter and study sessions with her friends, a display of her well-rounded personality.

As Ineza prepared for the Primary Leaving National Exam, she selected three prestigious high schools as her top choices. Fawe Girls School-Gisozi, Byimana School of Sciences, and Lycee Notre Dame de Citeaux, and her teachers are confident she will gain admission to one of them.

The Kwita Izina ceremony takes place in Kinigi, near Volcanoes National Park, where endangered mountain gorillas reside. The ceremony brings together rangers, researchers, and guests from around the world to celebrate nature and conservation.

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This year, 23 baby gorillas will be named, continuing a tradition that began in 2005 and has named 374 gorillas to date. The naming ceremony showcases Rwanda's successful conservation efforts and its unique approach to gorilla tourism.

As the youngest namer at the ceremony, according to organisers, Ineza's participation marks an acknowledgment of "younger generations' brilliance and potential."