Tigo Rwanda, in partnership with the Rwanda Education Board (REB), has awarded ten best performing students in last year’s Senior Six national examinations.

The recipients undertook science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which Tigo Rwanda officials said are in line with their ultimate goal of promoting STEM education.

Officiating at the awarding ceremony in Kigali, yesterday, Isaac Munyakazi, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, commended the gesture as inspiring to students.

 "We are promoting STEM education, and as such, activities like these encourage students to pursue these disciplines. We believe STEM is an accelerator of growth of the education sector as well as a contributor to economic development. We want more private partners like Tigo to come on board,” he said.

Students were awarded with smartphones, year-long internet connectivity, certificates and other prizes.

Philip Amoateng, the Tigo CEO, said that the iniative is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

"We are here today to celebrate few distinguished students who performed well in the academic year 2016. This is part of our CSR which focuses on three main areas (youth, education and women empowerment). We are encouraging and empowering the youth to drive the innovation and technology agenda,” he remarked.

Besides, two best-performing males and two best-performing females, who excelled in combinations, which included computer science, will each receive a two-month internship with Tigo Rwanda, according to Amoateng.

"They will gain exposure to a telecommunication company’s working environment and we wish they will be able to explore more about the job market and help them in career guidance before transitioning to university,” he said.

Those who will get a two-month internship include Afsa Ineza, Gisele Uwamahoro, Fabrice Ishimwe, and Jean Stephanie Ndayishimiye.

Ganza Kevin, one of the students who were awarded, commended the telecom company for the prizes, noting that they were encouraged to even perform better.

"These rewards are a sign that there are people who think about us and appreciate what we are doing. This is beyond the monetary value of the rewards,” he told The New Times.

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