About 400 young leaders from various sectors and different corners of the country convened in Kigali yesterday for the second edition of the Young Leaders Conference, where they were called on to embrace Godly values and integrity in service for the continued development of the country.

The Young Leaders Conference was organised by Rwanda Leaders Fellowship (RLF) under the theme; "Fulfilling our divine destiny by serving our nation”.

Since January 2016, the RLF holds the young leaders fellowship — bringing together young leaders who are already fulfilling leadership responsibilities in government, private sector and civil society — in a format of a day-long conference focused on specific motivational presentations aimed at inspiring a new generation of competent leaders.

Rev Dr Antoine Rutayisire, the Chairperson of RLF, said that it was ideal that the youth are equipped with leadership skills as early as possible and challenged them to take on the mantle with integrity while embracing Godly values.

"We want to urge young leaders to know that people are not instruments of self-gratification neither should they be used for personal interests, whatsoever, but rather offer service with humility. These are indeed Godly values that we want young people to embrace for they are the future generation of our country,” Rutayisire said.

Statistics from RLF indicate that 78.7 percent of the Rwanda’s estimated population of about 11.5 million people is under the age of 35, while those aged 14-35 constitutes 38.5 percent of the total population.

Youth lie in the "active population category” which is 16-65 years, and this category constitutes 54.7 percent of the total population. Youth constitute 61.5 percent of this active population.

However, according to RLF, the majority of Rwandan youth continue to face challenges such as unemployment due to limited labor market, insufficient capital for start-ups, the needs for health-related information and services, including sexual and reproductive health, drugs and alcoholic addictions, and family conflicts, among others, which affect their physical, character and spiritual growth.

It is against this background that the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship organised the Young Leaders Conference, assisted by motivational speakers, renowned successful people, and government officials to discuss different issues and present feasible solutions in a bid to sow the seeds of excellence in the future leaders of Rwanda.

Rutayisire noted that, the current leadership envisions a better Rwanda throughout all sectors, hence requiring the church, as well as public servants, to groom and mentor "good citizens of tomorrow” through such youth-oriented programmes.

He added the nation cannot survive without laying emphasis on the welfare of its youth, hence the need to shape this key section of the population by instilling in them Godly values.

"Our country is developing fast, and this could at some point bring about bad values such as corruption, selfishness and increase in crime. This is the time we engaged the youth and encouraged them to shun such criminal ideologies by serving the nation with honor, greater zeal and pride.

"The power of the nation lies within the values of its citizens. Godly values lead to Godly leadership; which is all about serving the nation and the people selflessly. This is what Rwanda needs going forward,” Rutayisire reiterated.

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister for Youth and ICT, said that the conference will help in instilling dignity and servant leadership values in all citizens and future leaders.

"This is a great moment to engage young leaders from different parts of the country and challenge them to take on the responsibility to serve their nation basing on biblical principles and also a way of creating a lasting legacy of excellence in leadership,” Nsengimana said.

Clarisse Uwanyirigira, the National Youth Council coordinator, hailed the gathering as timely and a "catalyst” for patriotism and servant leadership among the youth.

Pastor Barbara Umuhoza, a member of the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, said the meeting was "not just church-based but it brings together different seasoned leaders from across various sectors of the society, hence becoming sort of a mentorship programme that fits the purpose of knowledge transfer.”

Brig Gen Emmanuel Bayingana, one of the speakers, urged young leaders to be ready to serve the nation with integrity and selflessness "irrespective the sacrifices that go with that service.”

The Young Leaders Conference is to be followed by the National Prayer Breakfast due to take place today at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The Rwanda Leaders Fellowship (RLF) started in 1995 as an informal prayer meeting with the simple aim of bringing leaders in top positions for fellowship, praying for the nation and its leaders, and sharing the Word of God not only to revive their faith but also to instill Godly values in their leadership.

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