The fourth graduation ceremony of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), held on 18 September 2026 at the RICA campus, celebrated more than academic achievement. It marked the beginning of a new responsibility for the Class of 2026: turning their education into practical solutions for farmers, healthier soils and stronger agricultural communities.
Throughout the ceremony, one message stood out: a degree in Conservation Agriculture (CA) is more than a professional qualification. It is a commitment to serve; lead and strengthen the agricultural systems on which farmers and communities depend.
A Call to Serve Farmers and Communities
In his message to the graduates, RICA Chancellor and Founder of The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Howard G. Buffett, stressed that agriculture needs committed leaders now more than ever. He encouraged the graduates to draw on their education and unique experiences at RICA to support farmers and contribute to Rwanda’s development.
“I’m proud of you. Your parents are proud of you. President Kagame is proud of you. Go out and help your country and support your farmers in the best way that you can,” Buffett told the graduates.
Similarly, RICA Interim Vice Chancellor Dr Olusegun Adedayo Yerokun, described the graduates as CA ambassadors. He challenged them to promote, practice and improve CA principles while demonstrating their values wherever they work.
“Let your knowledge translate into better farms, stronger communities, healthier soils and more resilient agricultural systems,” Dr Yerokun said.
This responsibility is particularly important for smallholder farmers, who need agricultural professionals who can listen to their challenges, work alongside them and develop solutions suited to their realities.
Preparing Effective CA Agents
RICA’s experiential learning model prepares students not only to understand agricultural concepts but also to apply their knowledge, solve practical problems and engage meaningfully with farming communities.
This approach reflects a key priority in RICA’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: molding students into successful CA agents. The second of the five strategic priorities demonstrates RICA’s commitment to developing graduates who are knowledgeable advocates for CA as well as ethical and responsible leaders.
Grounded in integrity, social responsibility and global awareness, RICA graduates are trained to think critically, promote innovation. They have been equipped to demonstrate the resilience and adaptability needed to drive meaningful change in Rwanda’s agricultural sector and beyond.
Benitus Niyompano, who spoke on behalf of the Class of 2026, stated that earning a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Agriculture opens the door to opportunities while bringing significant responsibility. Farmers are searching for solutions, he noted, and the graduating class has gained the knowledge, practical skills and values needed to help build a more productive and sustainable future.
Benitus described the Class of 2026 as an investment in a select group of graduates entrusted with creating a meaningful impact for farmers in Rwanda and beyond
Graduates Ready to Turn Knowledge into Measurable Impact
Axelle Irakoze, the overall best performer in the Class of 2026, represents a new generation of graduates ready to advance Rwanda’s agricultural transformation and contribute to more sustainable food systems.
Recruited as a RICA research assistant before graduation, Axelle shares her classmates’ determination to promote Conservation Agriculture and contribute to its wider adoption. She is committed to applying the knowledge and skills she gained at RICA to support agricultural development.
Axelle hopes to contribute to initiatives that deliver “measurable benefits to farmers, including improved productivity, better soil management and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.”
Isaac Mukiza, who also works at RICA as a research assistant, shares that sense of purpose. Guided by a strong research mindset, he plans to use research and emerging agricultural technologies to support evidence-based decision-making and improve farmers’ productivity.
In particular, Isaac hopes to encourage smallholder farmers to adopt Conservation Agriculture practices that can help reduce production costs while maintaining healthy and productive soils.
The True Measure of a RICA Degree
Addressing the congregation, Dr Edward Kadozi, Director General of Rwanda’s Higher Education Council, urged the graduates to view their degrees not simply as qualifications for employment. He encouraged them to consider degrees as tools for solving problems, identifying opportunities and creating meaningful impact.
Dr Kadozi officiated RICA’s fourth graduation ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Education.
“Wherever your journey takes you, remember that your education is an investment, and with it comes a responsibility to society,” he said.
He added: “That is the mindset Rwanda needs: graduates who can turn knowledge into solutions, recognize opportunities, build enterprises, conduct meaningful research, use technology responsibly, and work across disciplines and borders.”
Ultimately, the value of the education received by the Class of 2026, like that of previous RICA graduates, will be measured beyond diplomas and graduation celebrations. It will be reflected in the farmers they support, the innovations they introduce, the soils they protect and the communities whose livelihoods they help strengthen.
The ceremony brought the total number of RICA graduates to 321. Available data, as of August 2026, show that 82% are professionally engaged, including 64.5% employed, 7.2% who are self-employed and 10.3% are pursuing graduate studies.
As the Class of 2026 begins its next chapter, its mandate is clear: turn learning into service, knowledge into action and opportunity into lasting agricultural transformation.
