{"id":31790,"date":"2022-12-18T16:30:56","date_gmt":"2022-12-18T16:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/over-170-youth-urged-to-create-jobs-after-bpr-banks-igire-programme"},"modified":"2022-12-18T16:57:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T16:57:58","slug":"over-170-youth-urged-to-create-jobs-after-bpr-banks-igire-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/over-170-youth-urged-to-create-jobs-after-bpr-banks-igire-programme","title":{"rendered":"Over 170 youth urged to create jobs after BPR Bank\u2019s IGIRE programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>The 2022 intake of BPR Rwanda Bank Plc\u2019s IGIRE scholarship programme graduated on Thursday, December 16, after six months of vocational training in different trades.<\/p>\n

IGIRE youth scholarship programme, through BPR Bank\u2019s foundation, aims to equip high school graduates with essential vocational skills. It is a partnership with the National Youth Council.<\/p>\n

The 176 young people, who graduated on Thursday, were trained in agri-mechanisation, culinary arts, food processing, automobile mechanics, welding and ICT, through the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centres (IPRCs) across the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis programme is part of our contribution to the solutions to youth unemployment in the country. We can afford to sit back and complain, but that won\u2019t change the situation. So, with one graduation at a time, we move forward,\u201d George Odhiambo, the Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda, said.<\/p>\n

He said that the choice of young people was deliberate and that it would lead to long-term results in the future.<\/p>\n

A representative of graduates speaks on behalf of his teammates during the ceremony on Thursday, December 16. Courtesy<\/p>\n

Odhiambo explained that the IGIRE programme was established to respond to the skills gap that affects certain sectors.<\/p>\n

\u201cHotels were opening in this city and they needed people who can do baking, and room services. Companies were digitising their services and they lacked people with ICT skills. These were some of the incentives that led us to establish the programme,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Odhiambo said that the bank management was mobilising resources to be able to have bigger intakes and that it was asking the IPRCs for more other technical courses that can be included in the IGIRE programme.<\/p>\n

IGIRE programme started in 2018 with a view of contributing to the government efforts to reduce youth unemployment. So far, the programme has paid for the tuition of 550 youths in the IPRCs.<\/p>\n

BPR Bank Rwanda Plc was officially launched following the merger of former KCB Bank Rwanda and Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR).<\/p>\n

Caroline Wanjeri, the Head of KCB Foundation, encouraged the IGIRE beneficiaries to train other young people and create jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things you must remember is that when you are given, remember to give. I will not ask you to give money; I will ask you to give back in terms of mentorship,\u201d Wanjeri said.<\/p>\n

Beneficiaries said the IGIRE programme had equipped them with skills needed on the labour market. Some of them will get start-up capital for their projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore joining the IGIRE scholarship, I had a lot of dreams but technical schools charged a lot of fees I could not afford,\u201d said Francoise Ingabire, who completed a six-month food-processing training at IPRC Musanze.<\/p>\n

Ingabire, whose project was awarded as the best, commended BPR\u2019s initiative that provides opportunities to young people in both urban and rural areas.<\/p>\n

IGIRE programme started in 2018 with a view of contributing to the government efforts to reduce youth unemployment. So far, the programme has paid for the tuition of 550 youths in TVET education.<\/p>\n

\u201cIgire has been a very essential programme to me after I completed my secondary school studies. I trained in automobile mechanics and I will be able to work in a garage. I also plan to open a spare parts store,\u201d said Clemence Mugabekazi, another graduate.<\/p>\n

Emmanuel Shema said: \u201cThe last six months training in ICT have opened more horizons for me. I will be able to create employment for myself and other graduates. During training, we also had internships to prepare us before joining the job market. Igire is really a solution to youth unemployment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alodie Iradukunda, the coordinator of the National Youth Council, commended BPR Bank\u2019s commitment to supporting Rwanda to reduce youth unemployment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIgire programme is addressing an issue that affects everyone. Most people say the youth need jobs, but they don\u2019t provide the solution. So, programmes like these support the government\u2019s outlook in terms of the development of TVET education,\u201d Iradukunda said.<\/p>\n

Some of the 2022 intake of BPR Rwanda Bank Plc\u2019s IGIRE scholarship programme that graduated after six months of vocational training in different trades on Thursday, December 16, .Courtesy<\/p>\n\r\n