The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, urged Young Rwandans to sustain the achieved development and strive to achieve more.

Mrs Kagame was speaking at YouthConnekt Champions and Celebrating Young Rwandan achievers on Friday, 11^th December 2015, event aimed at rewarding Rwandan youth with exceptional talents and accomplishments, as well as enterprises and organizations that have intentionally steered their activities, focus, resources and determination towards youth. This includes addressing capacity building, mindset change, poverty and unemployment for young people.

“Rwandan youths, you have the power and opportunity to sustain the achieved development levels and take it to another level. I challenge you to stand for excellence in all your endeavors,” said the first Lady, the founder and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation.

In his vote of thanks, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister of Youth and ICT called on young people to take advantage of the current youth-centred development climate created by the country's leadership, which pushes for them to accomplish their ambitions. 

Minister Nsengimana added that it is a unique opportunity to work for and with the youth, because their passion, innovation and energy is an abundant source of motivation and their success a reason for celebration and satisfaction.

“At the ministry, we feel so privileged to have each one of you as partner in the journey of working with the youth. Their success is a reason for celebrations,” Minister Nsengimana said.

Those eligible for this year’s awards were young people who demonstrate vision, leadership qualities, excellence, creativity, initiative, integrity and positive values in their professions; but who also show evidence of having provided service to their communities and devotion toward the development of the youth, and their communities in Rwanda. They must also inspire and motivate other youth to reach their full potential.

Seven young people; ATHANASE RUHUMURIZA, DIANA TETA, DIANNE DUSAIDI, KELLYA UWIRAGIYE, JEAN BOSCO NZEYIMANA, CEPHAS NSHIMYUMUREMYI and Dr. ALICE NIRAGIRE were awarded for achieving the highest level of personal and professional accomplishments and forging paths inspiring other Rwandan youth to improve their lives and those of others.

UMUTANGUHA FINANCE, AERG and IMAGINE WE were recognized as YouthConnekt Champions.