Govt. pledges support to agriculture graduates #rwanda

Government is committed to supporting agriculture
graduates to foster agricultural development in the country,
Tony Nsanganira, the Minister of State for Agriculture has
said.
Nsanganira was speaking at the University of Rwanda (UR)
's College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary
Medicine (CAVM) inaugural graduation ceremony in Kigali
yesterday.
He said the support aims at enhancing agriculture as a
major contributor to the national development agenda.
"We have already been working with graduates from UR in
many ways. Once again, I want to pledge our full support to
the activities that you will be undertaking after here,"
Nsanganira said.
The minister said efforts are underway to strengthen already
existing partnership in different areas to make sure the
College passes out graduates capable of making a
difference in the lives of Rwandans.
He urged the graduates to support the country's
development agenda by helping make agriculture the
backbone of the economy.
"I want to remind you that this country has a vision, and
you should find your place in that vision. It is important to
understand that the agriculture sector is not only a
backbone of this country's economy, but also a major
source of income to the majority of Rwandans," Nsanganira
said.
Yesterday marked the end of a five-day long inaugural
graduation ceremonies of the University of Rwanda since
the merger of seven public higher learning institutions in
September last year.
The move to merge the institutions aimed at enhancing
research, which would support the national development
agenda.
More than 1,600 students graduated from CAVM, bringing
the total number of graduates to 10,078.
Alphonsine Nambazimana, who graduated with a Masters
Degree in Agro-forestry and Soil Management, could not
hide her joy being the only graduate in that discipline.
"I am so happy, this is another step forward. We (females)
have been encouraged to challenge ourselves. I have
brought pride to myself, my family and the nation,"
Nambazimana said.
She urged fellow graduates to translate technical knowledge
into practice.
Nambazimana, who works with the Ministry of Agriculture in
the department of inspection and certification of agriculture
products for export and imports, urged youth to use the
minimum resources available to create their own jobs.
CAVM, formerly known as the Higher Institute of Agriculture
and Animal Husbandry (ISAE), was created in September
2013, with a purpose of training highly qualified technicians
in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry.
The College has several campuses namely; Busogo
(headquarter of the college), Huye, Nyagatare, Nyarugenge
and Rubirizi.
Dr Laetitia Nyinawamwiza, the College Principal, said the
merger is yielding results.
Dr Mike O'Neal, the UR Chancellor, told graduates that they
may not be as iconic as some of the world's greatest, "but
can all contribute towards a better Rwanda."
"Through acts of kindness and service, you will overcome
evil and change the future. Do not allow anything to
discourage you, and turn you away from the destination of
goodness, greatness and service, that we hope, is now
instilled in you," O'Neal said.