Lycee de Kigali and Mount Kenya University won the 2016 National Young Entrepreneur’s Debating Championships that took place last weekend.

The winners beat off stiff competition from Agahozo Shalom and University of Rwanda- College of Science and Technology respectively, the outgoing champions.

The competition started in August and ended during the weekend with schools that emerged winners at provincial level battling it out for the top spots.

The competition, which took place on Sunday in Remera, was organised by Rwanda Inspiration Backup Ltd.

Only 14 schools among others that participated in this year’s fifth annual championship made it to the finals.

The countrywide competition started at district level to the provincial level and finally to the national level, where every province was represented by two schools except the City of Kigali which was represented by four schools.

The competition which involved secondary schools and universities saw Agahozo Shalom and College of Science and Technology take the second places at secondary and university levels, respectively.

The debate centered on cashless economy, youth unemployment, saving culture and entrepreneurship.

Dieudonne Ishimwe, the Project Manager of Rwanda Inspiration Backup Ltd, explained, "We think of what’s happening around and select topics and themes depending on the current trends. Therefore, the main focus of this year was on a cashless economy as one of the latest trending topics around the globe.”

Students debated on themes ranging from how information and communication technology test should be established in government institutions to advance technology, how savings account can promote the saving culture in Rwanda, and how the transition towards a cashless economy can be prioritised.

According to Ishimwe, the students who made it at the national level were given a two-day intensive training on speakers’ roles, entrepreneurship and other topics.

He also said that they had an opportunity to interact with several people who they believed would inspire them.

Meanwhile, Maya Musenga, from Wellspring Academy, Belinda Uwase Isimbi from King David Academy, and Clemence Mbabazi of Groupe Scolaire Mater De Nyanza, emerged top speakers respectively.

It was clear that this year girls topped the championship than boys.

The annual debating competition is organised to help the youth find solutions to problems that affect them, build the spirit of entrepreneurship and take part in national programmes.

The winners walked away with prizes that included laptops, medals and a trophy.