NORTHERN PROVINCE Burera — Professor Manasseh Nshuti has challenged undergraduates to take up courses on labour markets, and for those preparing to enter business to form cooperatives. Strength in numbers would be one of the only ways forward in a larger East African Community.Speaking to 700 students attending Ingando, Professor Nshuti, Minister of Labour and Public Service was discussing the challenges on the new market and the way forward.Underlying challenges, he said, including the transformation of agriculture from subsistence production. Current work in the country was often characterized by low production and use of traditional tools to modernise the farming system.A large portion of the population was considered young—67 per cent is below of the age of 25—however this potential labour force had to be endowed with capacity and quick development. While the gross domestic product has been growing at roughly 6 per cent each year, population was growing at half that rate, still too high to mean sustainable living and development for all. Through Rwanda’s work development agency, strategic measures were in place to link job-seekers and employers alike. Strengthening small- scale industries and forming cooperatives profit-oriented will not only support people but also boost the economy, he concluded. Ends
