Students who performed well in Rwanda’s national reading and book-writing competitions have been recognized and encouraged to continue using their talents to promote a strong culture of reading, writing and book creation.
The awards ceremony was held in Kigali on Saturday, September 5, 2026. It brought together students who took part in the 2025/2026 Reading and Book-Writing Competitions for primary schools, secondary schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The event also featured the launch and exhibition of books written by university students.
The competitions were organized by the Rwanda Book Industries Association (RWABIA) in partnership with the Rwanda Writers Forum (RWF) and the Private Sector Federation (PSF). Their main goal was to encourage reading and writing among students while identifying and supporting young talents.
Students from primary, secondary and TVET schools participated in the competitions, while university students had an opportunity to showcase books they had written.
The Head of RWABIA, Hategekimana Richard, said the initiative was also designed to help young people understand Rwanda’s values, history and social norms.
He said: "The aim was to teach children about our values, what is considered right and wrong in our society, and the history of Rwanda. This helps us raise young people who understand their country and grow into responsible citizens."
Among the university students who stood out was Nshimiyimana Lydivine, a student at ULK, who emerged as the best university participant. She attributed her success to commitment, reading and a passion for writing.
She said: “Winning first place has given me even more motivation to continue reading and writing. I want this achievement to be the beginning of developing my talent further and encouraging other students to enjoy books and writing.”
Lydivine also urged young people to look at reading as more than a way of preparing for examinations. She encouraged them to make it part of their daily lives because of the knowledge and skills it provides.
She said: “I encourage fellow students to develop a love for reading and writing because these activities help us gain knowledge, think more clearly and express our ideas with confidence.”
Pascal Mutabazi, a Senior Education Specialist at MINEDUC, said competitions of this kind are important in identifying and nurturing students with special talents.
He said: “These awards should not be seen as the end of the journey for the winning students. Instead, they should be a starting point for developing their talents further. We need to make reading and writing a continuous habit both at school and in everyday life.”
Mutabazi also called for stronger support systems for students who show talent in writing so that their work can reach wider audiences.
He said: “We need to continue supporting talented students by giving them opportunities to write, read, meet established writers and showcase their work. This will allow their talents to grow and develop.”
The Private Sector Federation also emphasized the importance of cooperation between government institutions, businesses, schools and other stakeholders in developing Rwanda’s book industry.
PSF representative Francois Twagirumukiza said competitions such as these can help turn young people's talents into meaningful opportunities.
He said: “These competitions are important because they reveal the talents of young people and create opportunities to think about how those talents can be turned into real activities and careers. The private sector can support young writers, strengthen the book market and help their books reach more readers.”
Twagirumukiza added that winning an award should be viewed as the beginning of a longer journey rather than its conclusion.
He said: “We need cooperation between the private sector and other institutions so that young writers can get the opportunities they need to develop their work and bring their books to the market.”
Participants at the ceremony said promoting reading and writing requires continuous activities and support rather than relying only on competitions.
Students who emerged as winners
In primary schools, Ishimwe Marie Immacule from GS Nyamagana in Ruhango took first place nationally with 96.6%.
In secondary and TVET schools, Igiraneza Dany from ES Nyamirama in Kayonza emerged as the overall winner with 91.8%.
In the P3 category, Kamana Mwamba Savio from Hill Light Academy in Nyagatare came first with 91.5%, while Ishimwe Marie Immacule topped the P4-P5 category.
In P6, Uwineza Cynthia from GS Matimba in Nyagatare took first place with 85.9%.
For S1-S3, Igiraneza Dany came first with 91.8%. In the S4-S6 and Level 3-Level 5 categories, Uwase Kamikazi Denyse from College de Bethel in Ruhango emerged as the winner with 86.3%.
The results highlight the ability of Rwandan students in reading and writing and show how competitions can motivate them to strengthen their knowledge and creative skills.
For the winners, the awards are an important recognition of their abilities. However, continued support will be needed to help them keep writing, publish their books and make their work available to a wider readership.
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