A total of 8,366 students were on Friday conferred upon degrees in different programmes at the 4th graduation ceremony of the University of Rwanda. The event took place at Amahoro National Stadium in Remera.

Dr. Mike O'Neal, the Chancellor of UR, said that this graduation is a moment of pride to the young institution that has gone on to seal its reputation on the regional level through several research publications.

"These graduates represent the powerful future of this great nation,” O’Neal said.

Education Minister Papias Musafiri commended students for the "patience displayed” while the university went through series of restructuring to make the institution to work better.

While presiding over the graduation ceremony, Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi told graduates to join forces with fellow Rwanda in shaping the future of the nation.

"You are the future we hope for,” Murekezi said, adding that, "our vision, as country, is to build a knowledge-based economy and we believe that with the knowledge and skills you have now, you can contribute to the development of our country.”

He urged students to embrace innovation and creating solutions through entrepreneurships rather than setting their eyes on searching for jobs.

Of the 8,366 who graduated, 5,115 are male students while female graduates add up to 3,251.

Under Postgraduate Programe, there are 160 male graduates and 116 female graduates with Master’s Degree. Two are PhD graduates with one male and one female.  

Also among the graduands, 311 were conferred up postgraduate diplomas, and among these 116 are female.

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