The Republic of Rwanda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo, has charged African youths to embrace tolerance and unity for nation building.

Bazivamo said this at the 31st commemoration of 1994 genocide against the Tutsi co-hosted by the embassy and Babcock University, tagged “ Kwibuka 31, meaning “remember “ at Illsan Remo, Ogun State.

He stated that under colonial rule, Belgium’s policies of social engineering introduced racial classifications and imposed hierarchies that systematically fractured Rwandan society, stressing that the role of certain missionary groups in entrenching these divisions is also part of our historical record.

“The lessons of 1994 must not be confined to textbooks or documentaries. They must live in our minds, in our choices, in the way we treat one another and in the societies we build,” he said.

“The story of Rwanda since 1994 is one of trauma and devastation but also one of rebirth. The scars of violence were not just physical but emotional, as survivors struggled to heal while living alongside their killers.”

He explained that Investing in unity became paramount, and the concept of “Ndi Umunyarwanda” (I am Rwandan) was central to the rebuilding process a collective identity transcending ethnic divisions and urging all Rwandans to see themselves as one people.

Speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Babacock Uiversity, Prof Ademola Tayo, noted that the genocide is a reminder of the evils of intolerance.
“In this moment of remembrance, we pay tribute to the victims and acknowledge the resilience of the survivors,” he said.

“We celebrate our common heritage as humans. We recognize that our diversity is strength, not a weakness. We acknowledge that the differences that once fueled hatred and division can be bridged through understanding, empathy, and compassion.”

He explained that Rwanda has made steady progress towards unity and economic transformation, urging Africans to focus on what unites them rather than what separates them.