Kagame challenges youth to shape their own destiny

President Paul Kagame, yesterday, told Rwandan youth to take responsibility in leadership and not wait for the future to be leaders.The President made the remarks while addressing over 2000 youth representatives from 32 institutions of higher learning who had gathered at the national stadium in Kigali.“You should be the leaders of today. For the youth to take their proper role in leadership, it must start early, you don’t wait for tomorrow, you start as early as possible,” Kagame told the youth.The event - dubbed ‘Meet the President’ - was held under the theme, “A Legacy of Self Reliance”. It attracted several foreign students.Rwandan institutions of learning have attracted students from Burundi, DR Congo, South Sudan and Haiti.President Kagame urged the youth to shape their own destiny and to resist living by the dictates of others. He added that the decision to be self reliant must be accompanied by concrete actions.“What matters is what you do, how well you do it and the results thereof. That’s what you can associate with the change that people want to see and have,” he said.Giving the example of the relationship between the horse and the horse rider, the President asked Rwandans and African in general to reject being horses and letting other people decide how you live your lives.“If you want to be the horse, there are so many riders competing for you. They will ride, whip, direct you here and there, that is a relationship that is not sustainable, a relationship that we, Rwandans, Africans cannot afford to accept, we have been there for too long, we must change that and be the riders of horses,” Kagame stressed, drawing a loud applause and a standing ovation.The Head of State called on the young people to make sure they become agents of change reminding them of their capability to achieve what they set out to do, as they are not inferior to anyone else. “We must have that determination, we must make a choice, and be able to do it and we are capable of doing it, because we are talented as much as any other person on this earth.”“Why should you be secondary citizens of this planet ? Always ask yourself that question, challenge yourself, challenge others, your colleagues,” Kagame told the students.“You young people – our future – you must not accept that (secondary citizens), and not accepting that just doesn’t mean saying no, it means doing something about it, it’s not just words, its saying no through what you do that brings that change.”The Head of State cautioned the students against listening or giving attention to people who take it upon themselves to determine what is best for the Rwandan people. “Why should you wait for somebody else to tell you what is good for you?” the President asked.“There are some people who have never been to Rwanda but always care to give lessons to Rwandans and criticise what Rwandans do. They keep saying ‘in Rwanda there is no freedom’; that is another way of denying Rwandans freedom, to express themselves,” he said.President Kagame encouraged the students to make the most of their skills and education, to succeed in life and contribute towards making the country and the continent a better place.“You may get a number of diplomas and degrees, which are important, but, most significantly, how are you going to use that and improve your wellbeing? This must always be at the back of your mind and that is how we will be able to move our country forward.”The President then held an interactive session with the students who asked him a wide range of issues including the controversy surrounding the fairness of international justice and the ICC, the crisis in the Congo, Rwanda’s win to the UN Security Council seat, their welfare as students and role in the development of the country.Sylidio Mbonyumuhire said: “We are ready to participate in the development process of this country by providing solutions to our challenges, instead of looking for solutions from others.”During the televised event, the President also answered questions which were posted on Twitter and Facebook.The Head of State has on previous occasions met students in several universities in the country for a similar interactive discussion.When ssked who he would wish to see succeed him as President; Kagame said he was looking forward to someone with the will and the ability to keep the country progressing. “I am not looking at someone who’s like me. I think about someone who can do similar things or better, but it must be someone who understands and will keep us in the same direction we are taking. Our vehicle has no reverse, we only move forward.”Students speak outAt the event The New Times caught up with some of the students who shared their views about meeting first ‘Meet the President’ event.Bernard Mutuyezu, a 3rd year student of general nursing at the Byumba School of NursingI am extremely excited to have met President Kagame and shared with him my views. These kinds of discussions inspire us to be responsible leaders in the future.Violet Mushimimana, a 3rd-year Law student at the National University of Rwanda (NUR)We get inspired whenever we meet and interact with the President. This is not the first time we have met President Kagame; we always interact with him, there is a lot we learn from him. I am so glad.John Paul Mugabo, a 4th year Economics student at Kigali Independent University (ULK)I feel motivated to work so hard for the wellbeing and development of our country.Mary Grace Uwamariya, a final year environment and management student at NURI loved what the President said and I encourage my colleagues to take what he said seriously so we can together build a self reliant Rwanda.