Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Thursday, Could 29, urged the newest cohort of graduates from Rwanda Polytechnic to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s improvement by means of innovation and technical experience.
Talking on the commencement ceremony at BK Enviornment, the place 4,562 college students have been awarded diplomas throughout a spread of technical disciplines, Prime Minister Ngirente highlighted the crucial function of expert graduates in driving Rwanda’s industrial ambitions.
Through the occasion, 24 high performers within the Rwanda Polytechnic Abilities Problem obtained particular honours, with gold, silver, and bronze medalists awarded Rwf1 million, Rwf700,000, and Rwf500,000, respectively.
“Our industrialisation ambitions are excessive, and it’s evident that we want many consultants in several technical fields if we’re to realize these ambitions,” Ngirente mentioned.
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He famous that the growing variety of technical graduates lately is an indication of progress, reflecting a shift in youth curiosity in the direction of sensible and in-demand abilities.
“When you evaluate the variety of graduates we had then and that of at this time, you may see a constructive development,” he mentioned. “The impression of technical abilities reaches each nook of society — in well being, schooling, enterprise, and trade — serving to nations to develop and adapt to new challenges.”
Ngirente cited a latest survey indicating that greater than 70 per cent of final yr’s Rwanda Polytechnic graduates are both employed or pursuing additional research. He said that the findings show the establishment’s success in aligning its coaching with labour market wants.
He additionally emphasised the significance of continued collaboration between the schooling sector and the personal sector to make sure easy school-to-work transitions.
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“Shifting ahead, we should proceed strengthening profession steerage and trade partnerships to make sure graduates obtain the precise help as they step into their skilled lives,” he mentioned.
Ngirente counseled the Ministry of Schooling and Rwanda Polytechnic for introducing new programmes such because the Bachelor of Know-how (B.Tech) diploma, which was conferred for the second time throughout this yr’s ceremony.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to increasing entry to technical coaching, stating that steady partnerships with companies, industries, and employers are important to getting ready graduates for evolving job markets.
“The skilled world is continually altering, and we should continue to learn and enhancing to remain aggressive,” he mentioned. “The federal government of Rwanda will proceed to help Rwanda Polytechnic so it could reply to labour market calls for. As trade grows and new applied sciences emerge, schooling should evolve to make sure graduates stay work-ready and resilient.”
Minister of Schooling Joseph Nsengimana praised the graduating class of Rwanda Polytechnic for his or her tutorial achievements and for embodying the nation’s imaginative and prescient for a talented and self-reliant future.
“Right this moment, we rejoice not solely tutorial achievement, but in addition the promise of a brighter, extra expert, and self-reliant Rwanda,” Nsengimana mentioned. “Rwanda Polytechnic stands as a beacon of hope and transformation in our schooling sector.”
Talking on the ceremony, he famous that the graduating class of over 4,500 college students, together with greater than 1,400 receiving the newly launched Bachelor of Know-how levels, mirrored a rising dedication to vocational and technical coaching. He mentioned the graduates are anticipated to play key roles in shaping the nation’s industries and contributing to nationwide priorities, together with the targets of Imaginative and prescient 2050 and the Nationwide Technique for Transformation.
“To the graduates, at this time isn’t an finish, however a starting,” he mentioned. “You’re outfitted with technical experience, creativity, and resilience. Your time at Rwanda Polytechnic has ready you not only for employment, however for management in entrepreneurship, innovation, and group development. Our nation appears to you to use your data with function, your talent with integrity, and your ardour with perseverance.”
Nsengimana additionally counseled the school and management of Rwanda Polytechnic for his or her dedication to aligning schooling with market wants, stating that their efforts have helped place Technical and Vocational Schooling and Coaching (TVET) as a key driver of inclusive financial development.
“Because the Ministry of Schooling, we reaffirm our dedication to advancing Rwanda’s increased schooling sector by increasing entry, enhancing infrastructure, and deepening partnerships with trade,” he mentioned. “We envision Rwanda Polytechnic thriving as a hub for innovation, utilized analysis, and workforce improvement.”
Israel Bimpe, CEO of Irembo and a visitor graduation speaker, shared his journey from scholar volunteer to management in drone logistics and well being innovation, urging graduates to remain curious and open to sudden alternatives.
“Curiosity made me a relentless learner. It made me consider there was no restrict to what my potential could possibly be,” he mentioned. Bimpe recounted how an opportunity volunteering alternative at a World Financial Discussion board aspect occasion led him to work with a Swedish entrepreneur within the drone trade. That encounter ultimately led him to a place at Zipline, the drone supply firm working in Rwanda.
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“At Zipline, I used to be struck by the fervour of my colleagues to alter the world by constructing expertise powered by synthetic intelligence and automation,” he mentioned. “We have been doing one thing that had by no means been performed earlier than — remodeling lives, day after day.”
Bimpe inspired graduates to assume past standard paths and embrace innovation as a method of driving impression.
In an interview after the ceremony, Arsène Gatabazi Dushime, one of many graduates, mentioned the day marked the end result of three years of effort and dedication.
“I plan on using myself and others,” he mentioned. “I carried out nicely through the abilities problem and was awarded. I plan on utilizing the prizes towards scaling up. The administration of Rwanda Polytechnic performed its half in giving us all of the variables. Now it is as much as us to provide you with market-ready innovations that would even earn worldwide patents.”
Rwanda Polytechnic at the moment operates eight campuses throughout the nation: RP Gishari, RP Huye, RP Karongi, RP Kigali, RP Tumba, RP Musanze, and RP Ngoma, providing technical and vocational coaching that continues to evolve with nationwide improvement wants.
