Students in the East African Community (EAC) region have been challenged to think more broadly, beyond the context of their own respective countries.

The advice was made Wednesday by Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, an Economics Advisor to President Kagame, who was Guest Speaker at Uganda’s Nkumba University’s 12th Commencement Lecture.

This year’s theme was "Employment opportunities in the expanded East African Community”.

"If you are to tap into the East African market, you should overcome that ‘home mindset’ and think East African because you are students of this region,” Nshuti told hundreds of students.

"Governments must put institutions and facilities in place to create jobs for University graduates. They have a duty to get you jobs through stimulating investments,” Nshuti added.

He lashed out at African policymakers, saying that they have done little to adequately prepare students for the market that awaits them as they leave their universities.

The University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Hannington Sengendo, said that the theme of the lecture was chosen due to the adverse effects the global financial recession has had on the East African countries. 

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