First Lady tips youth on careers

The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, yesterday urged the youth to be keen on making right career choices. She was addressing the annual Youth Forum attended by 300 young people from various universities and institutions across the country as well as high school graduates in their gap year.Though Mrs. Kagame advised them to seek advice and guidance from adults when choosing their careers, she also told them to follow their hearts and do what they were passionate about..She noted that choosing the right career path is a delicate issue and can be a dilemma for many young people. She, however, went ahead to advise them on three crucial steps needed in choosing the right career and one of them being “knowing oneself”.“Know what you like and what you don’t. Know what you are strong in and what you are not. Similar to looking for a friend, you want to find a career that complements your character, not one that conflicts with it,” she advised.The First Lady further called upon the youth to attain the right careers through training and education thus evaluating their skills. She added that the job market is very competitive so the higher one goes in their education, the better their chances.The Minister of Education, Dr Vincent Biruta, who also addressed the youth, noted that lacking higher education is one of the key factors leading to youth unemployment.He noted that skills don’t necessarily have to be obtained at universities but also through TVET. He encouraged them to take internships seriously in order to get practical skills that will help them compete in the job market.William Mudahemuka, a second year student at INATEK, Kibungo said that he has been equipped with knowledge on how to make the right choices.“I’ve learnt what I need in order to make right career choices, maximise my abilities, skills and also focus on building my country and myself for a better future through hardwork,”he said. Valentine Nyirandihokubwayo, a senior six leaver, said she had benefited a lot from all the knowledge that was shared during the forum.She said she now had the ability to make the right choices and decide on what to pursue at university, citing that she would love to study nursing when she joins university as it suits her character, ambitions and passion.The theme for this year’s youth forum was, “Navigating Pathways; Lifeline to Success,” focusing on career guidance. Closing the forum, the Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, urged the youth to embrace change while visualizing their end-plans.

National

First Lady tips youth on careers