Kigali: President Kagame on Thursday presided over the closing ceremony of the 12th Itorero Indangamirwa comprised of 698 trainees including high school graduates and university students from across the country and the globe, as well as best performing public servants.
Addressing Indangamirwa and their relatives at the ceremony held at RDF Combat Training Centre, Gatsibo District, President Kagame reiterated the role of Itorero in preserving the country’s values and culture.
“Itorero is about raising our children and educating them in our culture. We want our country to be founded on our own values. We want to value our culture, promote it and learn from it. When you are being taught, part of it is listening and following the teachings. But it is not about following blindly. You need to use your own thinking to discern right from wrong and voice your own ideas. This program is about raising the youth for our country. We want a country founded on our values and on education. We want to transform our country, to be liberated from poverty and ignorance” President Kagame said.
Itorero should also play a vital role in the country’s transformational journey and liberation from poverty and ignorance, President Kagame noted.
“We all came driving in a car. Do you sometimes ask yourself, why can’t we make our own cars? Instead of buying them from elsewhere, why don’t we make them and be the ones to export them? But this requires you to gain knowledge. We can’t just be stopping at making bread. We have to aim higher. Cars, phones, electronics should not only be manufactured by others. We are all capable of doing it” President Kagame said. (End)