School drop-out wins jackpot

Jean Pierre Minani, who dropped out of school in 2010 due to lack of fees, yesterday said his hopes were revived when he won Rwf 1 million in an instant scratch-off lottery, known as ‘Fortune 5’.Fortune 5’ is a new lottery game introduced in the country by the Rwanda National Lottery in December last year. The 21 year old, from Musenyi Sector, Bugesera District in the Eastern Province, and who works as a Tigo airtime vendor, is the luckiest winner to have walked way with Rwf 1 million since the lottery started. Speaking to The New Times yesterday after receiving his cheque from Rwanda National Lottery, he said he was extremely excited for winning the game.“I can’t believe I have won. Imagine millions of Rwandans who try this game everyday! Having emerged the luckiest winner, it’s a blessing from God,” he remarked.Minani stressed that his father passed away when he had reached senior four and his mother had since failed to raise his tuition fees and out of frustration, he decided to look for some casual jobs to sustain his mother and himself. “I have not yet decided where to put this money, but I am going to go back to school because this is enough to push me up to university,” he said.“I thank God I am going back to school; I think at last, he has answered my prayers.”He also pledged not to squander the cash adding that, he would use part of it to buy basic necessities for his home as well as clothes for his mother.He said it was his first time to buy the Rwf 500 lottery ticket.Minani aspires to become a journalist in future as he likes the profession.According to Robert Bayigamba, the Chairman Rwanda Gaming Association, Rwandans should try their luck in lottery games because a winner stands to live a better life.“Minani dropped out of school due to lack of school fees, but due his fortune, he can now go back to school. Lottery and other betting games are recognised in the country. Anybody should try their chance,” he asserted.Phillip T. T. Wong, the Managing Director of Rwanda National Lottery said; “if you buy a ticket worth Rwf500, then you have five chances of winning and that is the reason why it is called fortune five.”“Lotto is the best game. If you’re lucky, it can change your life.... Minani serves as example to others,” he noted, adding that the company has close to Rwf 1 billion to be won in the next six months.