NORTHERN PROVINCE

NKUMBA - At least 997 students in private institutions of higher learning completed a civic education training programme (Ingando) at Nkumba centre in Burera District.

This is the first time students from private institutions have undergone this training which has in the past been mainly attended by government-sponsored students in public institutions.

Senate President Dr. Vincent Biruta, who presided over the closing ceremony called upon the students after their pass out to become ‘agents of change’ and to be engines of the country’s transformation.

Biruta also presided over the initiating of another phase of training in which of over 800 students were officially received.

"We cannot have sustainable development without people who will serve as guiding figures to promote development, students hold a big responsibility of shaping the country’s future’’ Biruta said.

He added that every country survives on the power of the youth and if their strength is rightly guided, they can produce a great change leading to development.

Thestudents pledged to fight genocide and its ideology, promote unity among the youth, and be flag bearers for positive change.

Dr J Baptiste Habyarimana, the president of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), urged the students to use the knowledge acquired in building a genocide ideology free society by starting from their schools.

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