KIGALI - The State Minister in charge of Industry and Investment Promotion, Vincent Karega, told college students early this week that people don’t achieve heroism with the intention of later bragging about it.

Karega was addressing students at Kigali Institute of Management (KIM) during a public lecture as part of activities for today’s Heroes Day celebrations.

"Heroes must have made outstanding achievements for the good of society and not for personal gain,” Karega said.

He added that societies without such persons stray from the path of social evolution.
Unlike in the past when the day was about honouring political or military achievers, this year’s Heroes Day theme, "Heroism in Development”, focuses on encouraging socio-economic transformation.   Karega called on students to emulate the country’s heroes who struggled selflessly to transform the Rwandan society for the better.

The minister pointed out that those aspiring to be heroes should have a vision and determination to help Rwandans out of the poverty circle.

"If you think positively, chances of getting constructive results are high,” he said. 

"We need to work hard if we are to achieve tangible results.  That is why heroes do not relax in their struggles,” he added. 

Alphonse Habakusi, an official from the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), urged students to embrace heroism while they were still young.   He gave an example of Rwanda’s liberation hero, Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigema, who died during the struggle in 1990 at the tender age of 33.
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