The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, on Friday evening called on Rwandan youths to strive for excellence, for this would inspire Rwanda’s development aspirations.

Mrs Kagame was speaking at the 5th edition of Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers, held this year in conjunction with the YouthConnekt Champions, at Serena-Kigali.

The event was aimed at rewarding individuals, companies and organisations that have intentionally steered their activities, focus, resources and determination towards positively impacting the lives of youth.

"Rwandan youths, you have the power and opportunity to sustain the achieved development levels and take it to another level….I challenge you to stand for excellence in all your endeavors,” Mrs Kagame said.

Held this year in partnership with the Ministry of youth and ICT (MYICT), the awarding gala was initiated by Imbuto Foundation in 2007, through the foundation’s Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Programme, which consists of activities aimed at empowering Rwanda’s youth. 

10 remarkable young Rwandans, including 3 organisations' representatives, from over 1000 nominees, were awarded for achieving the highest level of personal and professional accomplishments in leadership, entrepreneurship, art, sciences and community mobilization, and forging paths inspiring other Rwandan youth to improve their lives and those of others.

"At Imbuto Foundation, we strongly believe in supporting and helping young people to find the tools needed to truly become empowered. Similarly, we rely on positive reinforcement to encourage young people to shine in the activity of their choice, for this has proved to yield great results,” said the First lady said, who is also the founder and Chairperson of Imbuto.

Since the initiation of the biennial Young Rwandan Achievers Awards Ceremony (CYRWA) in 2007 to date, close to 30 young professionals have been rewarded for using their boldness, curiosity and innovation to bring to life ideas that improved their society.

They include, Pergeurin Duhungirehe, who was awarded in 2009 for creating employment for vulnerable women; Esther Mbabazi, awarded in 2013, for challenging traditional roles to become the first Rwandan female pilot; and Clarisse Iribagiza, another 2013 awardee, who launched a mobile development company called HeHe Limited, and was named this year by Forbes Africa, one of the continent’s 30 most promising young entrepreneurs, among others.

This year’s guest speaker, Sangu Delle, Founder of Golden Palm Investments in Ghana, said that for the African youth to succeed and set a positive impact in their societies and nations, there is a need for the right policies and good governance.

He noted that good policies like gender mainstreaming, seamless movement of Africans across the continent, among others would strengthen Pan-Africanism—which in the long run would inspire a socio-economic development on the continent.

"We need public entrepreneurs, as much as we need economic entrepreneurs. Our future lies in pan African approach…our development, as a continent, starts with our own goods as Africans.

"I commend the government of Rwanda for addressing the need to remove visas for Africans traveling into the country, […] the rest of the countries on the continent should follow suit, this will inspire the development of our continent,” said Delle.

Delle, also challenged the young entrepreneurs—through their fields of business—to create philanthropic initiatives; giving back to their communities.

"We can be philanthropic and show our love for humanity… I challenge you to ask yourself what you have done for your community, country, continent and the world. If you are not satisfied with the answer, don’t sleep. These humanitarian initiatives from ourselves, to our communities will transform our countries and continent to what we want it to be,” Sangu added.

The awarding ceremony, was also attended by a number of high-ranking government officials, young professionals and several business executives.

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana, the minister of Youth and ICT noted—in the closing remarks—that, young people should take advantage of the current youth-centred development climate created by the country's leadership, which pushes for them to accomplish their ambitions. 

"At the ministry, we feel so privileged to have each one of you as partner in the journey of working with the youth—their success is a reason for celebrations,” said Minister Nsengimana. 

The minister challenged the awarded to work to inspire many other fellow youth through job creation. 

Rwanda’s first female surgeon among the awardees

The 10 YouthConnekt Champions and CYRWA awardees included a teacher, sign language initiative, Media entrepreneurs, social justice entrepreneurs and one artist, songwriter and songstress Dianne Teta, plus Rwanda’s first female general surgeon, Alice Niragire, who graduated from the University of Rwanda, in July this year.

"This award is a pride to me and my family…but also a pride to every girl out there who has always dreamed of becoming a general surgeon,” said Niragire, who now works with Rwamagana referral hospital.

Kellya Uwiragiye, was awarded for founding the 'Media for Deaf Rwanda' campaign, an initiative that has bridged the communication gap between those impacted by deafness in Rwanda and the rest of our society.

"Sign language is a basic right. Media for Deaf Rwanda, was a campaign aimed at showing the people and the world that disability is not inability. I thank the First Lady for the award, and call on the public to always strive for the rights of disabled persons,” said Uwiragiye.

The songstress Teta said, in her acceptance speech that, "This award is an inspiration that I should continue with great zeal what I am doing. I want to thank the First Lady for the award, this is a great boost for my career but to also inspire more young people.”

YouthConnekt Champion, Dominique Alonga, who represented ImagineWe Rwanda, a community library located in Kacyiru (Kigali), said that this award is like 'a star in the middle of the night', a sign that despite the many challenges, they should not give up for their work is making a difference in the lives of many.

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