First Lady Jeannette Kagame has urged young Rwandans to place greater focus on building stable families, stressing that strong homes are the foundation of a flourishing nation.
She delivered this message during the Young Leaders prayer breakfast, held on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at the Kigali Convention Centre under the theme “Our Heritage: Building Flourishing and Stable Families.”
The annual event, organized by Rwanda Leaders Fellowship (RLF), brought together over 600 participants from government, faith-based institutions, civil society, and the private sector.
In her address, Mrs. Kagame expressed concern over the rising culture of self-centeredness that undermines family values, the sanctity of marriage, and the spirit of sacrifice.
She noted that too many couples focus on elaborate weddings while neglecting the deeper work of preparing for life together. “You must understand that building a home is more important than putting all your resources into a wedding,” she said.
“Couples should ask themselves: Are we marrying for love, or is it pressure from peers and family? Is it because my partner is pregnant? Or is it financial gain? We must reflect deeply on the true reasons for marriage,” she cautioned.
The First Lady likened a family to both “a small Rwanda” and “a small heaven,” emphasizing that the responsibility to shape a lasting national legacy begins in households.
She prayed for married couples and asked God to bless families with strength and unity. She also reminded the youth that Rwanda’s journey of recovery places on them the duty to preserve what has been achieved.
“You are entrusted with protecting what your elders fought for. Keep striving to be exemplary in your families and in your work, so that you realize the dreams of those who came before us,” she said.
Highlighting the role of parents, The First Lady called for deliberate efforts in preparing young people for marriage, describing it as a shared responsibility of families and communities.
“We need to put more effort into preparing those who want to start families. Parents must stand by their children, lest we fail in our responsibility of raising citizens committed to family and nation,” she stressed.
She warned against letting materialism overshadow cultural values, insisting that marriage requires sacrifice, patience, and selflessness to achieve true unity.
Using a metaphor, she added: “A lush garden thrives because of the spring that waters it. In the same way, a flourishing and secure Rwanda with responsible citizens is rooted in united families that nurture national values.”
Speakers at the prayer breakfast echoed her message. Moses Ndahiro, Executive Director of Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, reflected on the 30-year journey of the National Prayer Breakfast tradition, which began in 1995 and has since served as a platform for prayer and knowledge-sharing across sectors.
Pastor Didier Habimana, an official at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, underlined the centrality of families, citing Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s famous words. “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family,” he said.
The event also featured testimonies from couples, including artist Dr. Thomas Muyombo (Tom Close) and his wife Tricia Niyonshuti, who shared lessons from their 12 years of marriage, pointing to communication, unity, and understanding as pillars of their bond.
Pastor Lambert Bariho called for greater access to premarital counseling to prepare couples for enduring unions, while Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi urged spouses to balance professional responsibilities with their duty to nurture joyful families.
