He delivered the message on Friday during the third graduation ceremony of the institute, where 83 students from the Class of 2025 were awarded their degrees.<\/p>\n
The Premier congratulated the graduates for their achievement and commended the visionaries behind RICA\u2019s establishment. <\/p>\n
Dr. Nsengiyumva underscored that the graduation was not an endpoint, but the beginning of a larger mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday you are not just receiving degrees, you are receiving a call to service,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Nsengiyumva highlighted how the graduates\u2019 expertise is closely tied to Rwanda\u2019s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which seeks to boost productivity in priority food crops by 50 percent to ensure food sufficiency and competitive exports.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs experts in conservation agriculture, you are well-positioned to drive this transformation by applying modern conservation practices and agri-innovations,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
He described conservation agriculture as a vital pathway to meet both national and global challenges: \u201cConservation agriculture represents a viable pathway for Rwanda to achieve environmental sustainability and long-term resilience. By improving soil health, it enhances agricultural productivity, increases farm efficiency and profitability, and contributes significantly to food security and the improvement of rural livelihoods.\u201d<\/p>\n
{{A call for integrity and service}}<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister urged graduates to serve with humility and integrity, stressing that their skills were not meant for personal gain alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you embark on your careers, remember that the knowledge and skills you\u2019ve gained at RICA are not for personal advancement alone. You are called to serve as agents of change and problem-solvers who create opportunities that transform communities\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue success is not measured by how far you go alone, but by how many you lift along the way. Let you be a generation not content to wait for the future, but a generation that is bold enough to shape it. Rise with purpose, rise with compassion, and above all, rise together as proud Rwandans,\u201d Dr. Nsengiyumva added. <\/p>\n
The Premier further assured that the government remains committed to creating an enabling environment where their talents will thrive.<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether, we will forge a future that is prosperous, inclusive, and resilient,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
{{Preparing leaders for global challenges}}<\/p>\n
Dr. Olusegun Yerokun, Interim Vice Chancellor of RICA, also addressed the graduates, reminding them of the immense challenges facing agriculture globally\u2014climate change, soil degradation, dwindling resources, post-harvest losses, and population pressures.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour training at RICA has been specifically designed to prepare you to lead this agricultural revolution,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
He explained that the program combined theory with practice in fields, laboratories, greenhouses, and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe skills and knowledge you possess are the seeds that will enable you to cultivate change and sow a truly sustainable future for many generations of Rwandans,\u201d Dr. Yerokun affirmed.<\/p>\n
The Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture was inaugurated in 2019 in Bugesera District as a strategic partnership between the Government of Rwanda and Howard G. Buffett Foundation.<\/p>\n
Established with the bold vision to revolutionize agricultural education, RICA equips young leaders with the tools to address Rwanda\u2019s pressing agricultural challenges while contributing to global sustainability.<\/p>\n
It currently offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Conservation Agriculture, taught entirely in English. <\/p>\n
The program is designed to address real-world problems, supported by international faculty, modern facilities, and partnerships with government, the private sector, and development organizations.<\/p>\n