Students in higher learning institutions and youth generally have been urged to save and invest on the local stock market to secure their financial future. 

According to the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the stock market provides students and other youth many investment options that could help them strengthen their savings, which they can use to start enterprises after completing university. Magnifique Migisha, the public relations officer for Capital Market Authority (CMA), said it is essential for the youth to plan for their financial future, noting that the stock exchange provides investment vehicles they can use to achieve this objective. "The capital market gives youth a secure avenue for mobilising savings, hence securing their financial future,” he said.

He was addressing the University of Tourism, Technology and Business on the opportunities offered by the stock market on Friday at the college campus in Remera, Kicukiro District. He assured the students that the exchange welcomes small savers, like students and other youth, to buy shares in the firms listed on the bourse. This is part of CMA’s national outreach programme targeting university students to encourage them invest on the nation’s capital market.

Speaking at the event, Isaac Nkusi, the chief executive officer of Success through Perspective, a firm that teaches people to save and invest smartly, said youth can raise the small capital, like part of their pocket money, to buy a few shares consistently. "Eventually, you will be able to accumulate enough savings to invest in other ventures. People become rich not because of the amount of money they earn, but how they use the little money that makes the difference,” he said.

He added that it is important to build a generation of young investors that will continue to improve their savings and create more investments to support and develop the economy.

What students say

Eric Mwizerwa, a business student at the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies, urged young people to develop the culture of savings, saying they could use the local exchange to invest and ensure sustainable earnings in future. He said the CMA programme enabled them to get information that will allow us to participate in the market and understanding the benefits of savings.

Agnes Kaco, a first year student at the university, said though it is not easy for many students to save, the capital market can help those who want to start small by buying a few shares using their pocket money.

"Young Rwandans need to secure their future by saving and investing on the stock market to ensure sustainable income in future, she said.

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