Ten students of the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences have received $1,000 each for tuition payment from a Korean pharmaceutical company.

The sponsorship is expected to improve the quality of education for the students and strengthen partnership between the college and the benefactors.

During the awarding ceremony recently, Dr Young Soo Woo, the executive director of Chong Kun Dang Kochon Foundation that provided the scholarships, said supporting medical and pharmaceutical students is in line with their company’s plan to promote healthcare provision.

"We hope that after graduation, these students will play an important role in treating people not only in Rwanda, but in the whole Africa,” he said.

"Our future depends on the education that our young people receive, so I expect that these students will devote their time to their studies and become leaders to take Rwanda forward,” Dr Woo added.

Prosper Ingabire, one of the beneficiaries, said the scholarship will boost his career.

"I’m going to the final year and this scholarship will help me to conduct research and do professional practice which will enable me to perform well in my medical career,” he said.

Anne Marie Nahayo, another beneficiary, said that the scholarship will ease the financial pressures her family has had in paying tuition fees.

"My studying conditions will change because I will be able to buy all the gadgets I need to complete the course,” she said.

Dr Jeanne Kagwiza, the acting principal of the University of Rwanda’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences, said that they not only valued the awards, but also partnership with the sponsors.

"We appreciate their initiative to come in Rwanda and help creating a better environment in education. We must not only teach students but also facilitate them to learn. Therefore, giving these scholarships to students motivates them to improve the learning quality,” Kagwiza said. 

The South Korean Ambassador to Rwanda, Park Yong-min, said education is one of his country’s areas of interest in Rwanda, along with rural development and ICT. 

He urged the students to study hard and try their best to improve and develop themselves.

"Be active, seize every moment and utilise it as an opportunity of improving yourselves. Eventually the knowledge and skills you acquire will not only improve your future, but also contribute to your community,” he added.