“Had Rwanda not stood up and taken responsibility and brought ourselves this far, we would be nothing. There would still be people coming to feed us.
When others complement what you are already trying to do, that is a good thing. But if you have done nothing yourself, if you have achieved nothing on your own, then you become nothing.
That is why we should always look back and remember. It helps guide us, including in the way we engage with others, whether in our region or beyond.
Most of you here are probably between the ages of 20 and 45.
Those who have gone before you are people who can look back and say : we did what we could. We gave everything we had, and this is the contribution we made. I am talking about those who fought for this country, and whose sacrifice made it possible for Rwanda to become what it is today.
Now, it is your time. I am speaking to you, the young people. Don’t wait until you are 70 and then start asking yourself: what did I do? I wish I had known. Take it seriously, understand it, and when you leave here today, act on it.” President Kagame, Chairman of the RPF | RPF Bureau Politique.
INSANE!
19 years ago, Messi did a charity photo shoot while playing for Barcelona.
Families entered a raffle, players were assigned by lottery, and Messi ended up holding a 5 month old baby.
That baby? Lamine Yamal.
Now they’ll face each other in Sunday’s World Cup final. 🤯
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶-𝗬𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁:
Many people have wondered how five-month-old Lamine Yamal, born into an ordinary, working-class family with no influential football connections, ended up in a photoshoot with Lionel Messi.
The answer is beautifully simple: PURE CHANCE
In late 2007, the Spanish newspaper Sport and UNICEF were producing a charity calendar featuring Barcelona players with babies. Yamal’s parents entered him into a public raffle, and he was among the children randomly selected. Messi, then a shy 20-year-old rising star, happened to be the Barcelona player assigned to their session.
The shoot took place at Camp Nou, where photographer Joan Monfort captured Messi holding and gently bathing baby Lamine as his mother watched nearby. Nobody involved knew that the child would later join Barcelona, wear the iconic No. 10 and become one of football’s biggest stars.
The photos remained largely forgotten until Yamal’s rise brought them back into the spotlight. Now, nearly two decades later, that anonymous baby and the young footballer holding him will lead Spain and Argentina against each other in the 2026 World Cup Final.
No influence. No special connections. Just a raffle, a charity photoshoot and a coincidence that now feels like destiny.
#Fıfaworldcup #lionelmessi #lamineyamal #ARGvsESP
Happy to be back in my second hometown, Kigali. Feeling good with the shinny streets and the clean air, the beautiful weather, the green hills and the smiling Rwandans. And enjoying some great days with friends and colleagues. Turikumwe! 🤝 🇷🇼 🇮🇱
Creating memories in Bigogwe with my brother @AshtonHallofc .
Days like these remind me how far God can take a dream. What a beautiful day🤞🏾
Rwanda, you never disappoint. 🇷🇼❤️🙏
#VisitRwanda
This evening, RDB Chief Tourism Officer Irène Murerwa met with fitness influencer and entrepreneur @AshtonHallofc, alongside content creators Enock Uwizeye @Ashton__Small and Yogendra Kushwah (Indian Ashton), to discuss their visit to Rwanda and opportunities to showcase the country's unique tourism experiences to global audiences.
#VisitRwanda
Today, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva visited the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam Project in Nyagatare, a key investment in Rwanda’s sustainable development.
Once completed, the project will irrigate more than 10,000 hectares of farmland, generate electricity, and provide clean water for thousands of households, strengthening food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
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Uyu munsi, Minisitiri w’Intebe Nsengiyumva yasuye umushinga w’Urugomero rwa Muvumba ruherereye mu Karere ka Nyagatare, umwe mu mishinga y’ingenzi ishyigikira iterambere rirambye ry’u Rwanda.
Uru rugomero nirumara kuzura, ruzafasha mu kuhira hegitari zisaga 10,000 z’ubutaka buhingwa, rutange amashanyarazi, ndetse rutange amazi meza ku ngo nyinshi. Ibi bizafasha Igihugu kwihaza mu biribwa, biteze imbere imibereho myiza kandi binongere ubushobozi bwo guhangana n’ingaruka z’ihinduka ry'ibihe.
Yesterday, the Higher Education Council (HEC) joined @Rwanda_Edu and @RwandaHealth for the 4×4 Steering Committee meeting, bringing together key stakeholders to review progress and assess targets under the health education reform agenda.
HEC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening quality assurance in health professional education, reinforcing collaborative implementation, a robust regulatory framework, and competence-based training as essential pillars in producing a highly skilled health workforce for Rwanda.
Among the lessons for trainees of Itorero #Indangamirwa16 are parade drills and martial arts, which help instill discipline, foster teamwork, build resilience, and develop self-defense skills.
This afternoon, we welcomed American fitness influencer @AshtonHallofc alongside Rwandan content creator Enock Uwizeye and fellow content creator Indian Ashton Hall. They paid respects to victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi and toured the exhibits, deepening their understanding of this history and lessons they preserve.
This journey changed my life forever.
My deepest gratitude to my brother @AshtonHallofc for seeing potential in a young creator from Rwanda. Your kindness, support, and belief in me opened doors I once only dreamed of.
To every person who shared my videos, every creator who reposted, every page, every media outlet, and everyone who showed love and support, thank you. You didn't just make a video go viral, you became part of a story that changed a life.
A small moment became a global blessing. I am forever grateful.
This is bigger than AshtonSmall.
This is proof that disability is not inability, Africa has limitless talent, and one act of kindness can change someone's life forever.
This is only the beginning. God bless you all ❤️🌍🇷🇼
JESUS IS KING 👑 🙏🏾
“Today, connectivity is no longer the end goal. We are now transitioning to the era of data-driven growth. Artificial intelligence is the common denominator that will redefine healthcare, education and energy, among many other sectors. As a commission, our mission is to ensure this transformation does not widen existing divisions.
The task ahead of us is urgent, but we will face challenges. The objective isn’t just to have a conversation. It is to ensure everything we agree to do, gets translated into tangible and practical outcomes.” President Kagame
President Kagame joined fellow Co-Chair Marc Benioff and Vice-Chair Doreen Bogdan-Martin for a fireside chat marking the launch of the AI for Good Global Commission. He then chaired the Commission’s inaugural meeting alongside Marc Benioff and Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
The high-level initiative brings together 44 commissioners to identify practical ways to harness artificial intelligence to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Did you know?
The Shema Power Lake Kivu Plant in @RubavuDistrict is Rwanda's first power plant to generate 50 MW of electricity from methane gas extracted from Lake Kivu, making it the country's largest methane-to-power facility. 1/2