He made the remarks on August 10, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of Itorero Indangamirwa, held at Gabiro Combat Training Centre (CTC-Gabiro) in Gatsibo District.
Dr. Nsengiyumva said today’s youth are fortunate to have grown up in a Rwanda that offers many opportunities, unlike the generation that lived through the period before 1994.
“What your country expects from you is different from what was expected of the youth who liberated the country. They found Rwanda devastated by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, but their bravery was demonstrated through rebuilding the country, restoring unity among Rwandans and laying the foundation for the development Rwanda is experiencing today,” he said.
He urged the graduates to build on the achievements made over the past three decades and contribute to making Rwanda stronger and more prosperous.
“You grew up in Rwanda that has rebuilt itself, a country with many opportunities and a promising future. Your responsibility, therefore, is to protect what has been achieved and build on it, taking the country far beyond where it is today,” he said.
‘Doing what is right may be difficult’
The Prime Minister told the youth that they have numerous opportunities to pursue but will also face distractions and temptations that could affect their choices.
“There are many opportunities available to young people like you to take advantage of, but I also want to remind you that there are many distractions and temptations. Often, you will find that doing what is right seems difficult, but that is where your values and your character as Intore will be demonstrated,” Dr. Nsengiyumva said.
He encouraged them to remain guided by the values they acquired during the training and to make decisions that contribute to the country’s development.
The 16th edition of Itorero Indangamirwa brought together 769 young people, including 315 girls and 454 boys.
The participants underwent training at Gabiro Combat Training Centre, covering areas including proficiency in the Kinyarwanda language, Rwandan cultural values and taboos, marksmanship and other basic military skills.
The participants included Rwandans living or studying abroad, students from international secondary schools, university students and young people who performed well during the 13th edition of Rwanda’s national civic education and community service programme known as Urugerero rw’Inkomezabigwi.
The latest group brings to 5,216 the number of young people who have completed Itorero Indangamirwa training through more than 15 previous editions.
Leave a Reply