On Tuesday, 23^rd August 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Governance Board, Dr. Usta Kaitesi officiated at the Great Awakening Conference, a week-long event organized by the Pan-African Missionary Organization (PAMA) to advance the gospel and empower their members to impact Africa.

The event attracted over five hundred attendees, predominantly pastors and church workers from twelve African countries who congregated at Eglise Vivante Nyarugunga, a member of the PAMA.  

In her remarks, Dr. Kaitesi sent a rallying call to faith-based organisations to step up their efforts in the fight against modern-day challenges, especially those confronting the youth, which she said if left unchecked, could imperil the country’s future. 

“As you celebrate and meet Christ in this week, I want you to remember the challenges that our people still face. (…), if teen pregnancies are increasing (…), what are you doing about that? If drugs are taking our youth in custody, what are we doing as the church?”, Dr. Kaitesi rhetorically asked.  

“I know the church has the capacity to transform”, Dr. Kaitesi noted.

She also emphasized that today more than ever, accountability is a critical factor in improving the standards of Africans and helping the continent realise its full potential.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area is an opportunity for us to engage on the riches and resources that we have as a continent, but it will remain very challenging when we remain very corrupt, when we remain lost into tribalism and discrimination, when we continue to be the scene of wars (…) and that shouldn’t represent the Africa we want. Every one of us has a responsibility to transform Africa from that point of view”, Dr. Kaitesi said.

She further commended leaders of local faith-based organisations for the role they played in the standardization of churches.

“If we had asked the congregation to live in the kind of churches they were praying from, they wouldn’t have preferred that. I am so grateful that the houses of the Lord in this country are becoming places that can be celebrated. (…), I want to congratulate leaders in the religious sector because you helped us in that standardization process”.

END