The Minister of Information said that Rwandans have to look beyond cultural barriers and view failure and disagreement positively in order to achieve success.
Louise Mushikiwabo said this at the graduation ceremony of 40 students of the Academy of Leadership in Competitiveness and Prosperity (ALCP), a function that took place Thursday evening.

"Culture has taught us to believe that failure is an irreversible situation and shame, but this is not true,” she said.

"Use failure and disagreements as lessons. When you fail, get back on your feet and win. Failure isn’t proof of our limits,” Mushikiwabo advised.

ALCP is a short course that started in 2007 and is facilitated by On The Frontier (OTF Group) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to equip young Rwandans with business and leadership skills.

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the Minister of Commerce and Industry welcomed the graduates to the ‘real world’ where they are expected to practice what they learnt.

"As educated young people, you are potential leaders, not only for yourselves, but also in your respective environments,” the Minister challenged the graduates.

During the ceremony, Amin Gafaranga, a product of ALCP, narrated his success story of Shokola, a 200-seater- café in Kiyovu that he explained was a result of the short course he had attended.

An exhilarated Ejidia Gasana, one of the graduates elaborated on the opportunities that lie ahead of the youths, saying that they ought to be exploited maximally.
"Youth have to become leaders of themselves and their environment.

This means recognizing opportunities and making utmost use of them with a view of becoming the best and without being hindered by risk or failure,” she said. 

Since 2007 the Academy has graduated six groups of students.

Ends