Minister Nsengimana urges youth to save

NYAMAGABE-The Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, on Thursday advised the youth to embrace the savings culture to ensure a better future for themselves and the country as well. He made the call during the launch of a one week campaign dubbed ‘Savings Week’ in Nyamagabe district under the theme: “Let’s save for our own future and our own dignity”.The week-long campaign is part of activities to mark the International Saving Day that is celebrated on October 31 every year. The day is dedicated to the promotion of savings all over the world and will mainly feature sensitisation meetings to explain the relevance of saving.Nsengimana called on the youth, and the population in general to work hand in hand with financial institutions to enhance the management of their resources. He told them that without saving, development would remain impossible and the future uncertain.The minister noted that by embracing the saving culture, individuals would control their spending habits.“Saving should be the first thing to think about while managing your money,” he advised.“Don’t expect that you will start saving when you get surplus money because you will not get it. Saving is about controlling your expenditures and avoid spending it on unnecessary things.”“To get to that point, we need to adopt new [spending] habits and to change our mindset. We need to review and cut down on our expenses”.He added: “You cannot get out of poverty if you don’t save for the future.”The Minister encouraged residents to work with savings and credits cooperatives (SACCOs) and other financial institutions. He expressed support to the informal saving groups which he said are promoting financial education and the saving culture among the population, especially those in rural areas.Waringa Kibe, the Rural Finance and Marketing Advisor at CHF/USAID Ejo Heza, observed that by promoting the savings culture, Rwanda was championing the dignity of its population.“If you come at my home everyday to beg for salt and tomorrow you come for sugar, the next day I will run away from you”, Waringa said, emphasising the relevance of saving ‘for self-reliance’.“Saving gives us dignity because we can meet our needs on our own”, she added.According to local officials, events will be held across the district and they are supported by CHF International, an international non-governmental organisation, through its USAID funded ‘Ejo Heza project’ in partnership with the Ministry of Finance.

National

Minister Nsengimana urges youth to save