Almost 160 Rwandan students currently pursuing their higher education from US universities will graduate in 2010.

The Director of the Students’ Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR), Emmanuel Muvunyi, revealed this during a farewell party organised in honour of another 41 students who have been enrolled in United States universities.

The students are pursuing different degrees in sciences under the Presidential Scholarships Programme.

The scholarships that are awarded to the best science students in the A’ level examinations have been given out since 2006.

"Early next year we shall be receiving over 160 graduates from the US who will be coming back to help develop their country because that is the key reason why they were sent abroad to study,” said Muvunyi.

The Presidential Scholarship Programme was introduced in partnership with the Oklahoma Christian University and later the California Baptist University as one way of investing in the people of Rwanda.

"They sign contracts with SFAR committing that they will have to come back and help build their country and so far they are adhering to that.”

At the same function, the Minister of Education, Dr. Charles Murigande, urged the students to always work hard and attain the best grades and to also remember that the future of their country is in their hands.

The Minister also urged the students to portray a good image of Rwanda. 

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