Rwandan youth are urged to focus more on sustainable goals rather than just entertainment.
His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda and the chairman of the RPF Inkotanyi, urges the youth not to replace long-term goals with impermanent developments, adding that the foundation they build today determines the future they will create.
President Paul Kagame insisted on this point on Friday, July 17, 2026, when he chaired the Political Bureau of the RPF Inkotanyi at its headquarters in Rusororo in Kigali.
“Do not wait until you are 70 years old and start wondering yourself, what did I do? I wish I had known. I tell you now, understand this, and find a way to deal with it when you leave here,” he said.
He continued, “I often hear people talking about the popular thing today saying, ‘vibes’ or ‘good vibes.’. I don’t deny that, but you have to ask yourself, where do I stand? Why am I standing here?”
The president of the Republic of Rwanda, continued by saying, “Before we talk about ‘vibes’ let us first empower the space we are in. Indeed, do not focus on ‘vibes’ but rather focus on the foundation that enables you to have those vibes.”
President Paul Kagame has said that a community cannot be built on momentary happiness, but rather must be supported by strong strategies that make that happiness last.
“You cannot build a community that is based on vibes alone, but a strong community is the one that can have vibes,” he said.
President Paul Kagame said that achieving personal and national goals requires a passion for action, not a reliance on accomplishments.
“Nothing can be done by itself. Nothing comes from nothing,” he said.
The President of the Republic of Rwanda told the youth that the future of the country will be determined by their ability to develop themselves through education, good health and responsible choices.
“It is like planting a seed. If you plant a tree and give it what it needs to grow and survive, that tree will bear fruit. It is similar to persons. You have to do everything you can to gain knowledge and develop yourselves,” he said.
President Kagame also warned the youth against using drugs and alcohol, saying that their effects are evident even though there are tricks used to hide them.
“The first people affected are the users. It also affects the wider communities. But it is something that can be fought. The first step in fighting it is to refuse to normalize it, refuse to glorify it and refuse to accept it.”
The President of the Republic of Rwanda also stressed that the youth’s role of developing the country's future is irreplaceable through innovation and commitment.
"What we expect from you, as the youth, is to be the new Rwanda that the country desires. You hear people talking about innovation. Innovation comes from people who are healthy, knowledgeable and purposeful. Innovation helps build the people and build the country," he said.
The President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame, has called on the youth to see themselves as key partners in building the country's future rather than as beneficiaries of what the country provides.
