Vice Chancellor of Babcock University (BU), Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof. Ademola Tayo and the ambassador to Rwanda, Christophe Bazivamo, at the 31st commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda have stressed the need for peace, unity and tolerance among individuals, groups or countries with one another.
Both spoke at a solemn ceremony to commemorate the 31st 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in which one million people were killed within 100 days by government forces, militia groups, and extremist Hutus.
Prof. Tayo said the atrocities were caused by colonialist manipulation of ethnic groups, fueled by bad governance, and perpetrated by government forces, militia groups, and extremist Hutus.
“It left a horrific scar on the history of Rwanda. The genocide reminds us of the evils of intolerance; of man’s inhumanity to man; of the importance of international intervention in the prevention of genocide; and of the critical role that a people’s unflagging resilience can play in ending atrocities.
“In this moment of remembrance, we pay tribute to the victims and acknowledge the resilience of the survivors. 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 noted
According to him, Rwanda has made steady progress ever since, towards unity and economic transformation and urge us to focus on what unites us rather than what separates us. The VC appealed that we reject the forces of division that seek to tear people apart based on racial, ethnic, gender, or other differences.
He added: “We must strive for a world where such atrocities never happen again: a world where humanity is valued above all else; a world where we can live in peace, harmony, and mutual respect. By working together, we can help support the survivors, and the international community to promote peace, justice, and human rights worldwide.”
Tayo challenged us to commit to promoting tolerance, understanding, and inclusivity while renewing our commitment to building a just and compassionate world.
Ambassador Bazivamo described the occasion a solemn one to commemorate the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people and lauded the management of BU for being part of Kwibuka 31 outreach.
He said Kwibuka, is a Kinyarwanda, which means “to remember” and that it is more than a commemoration but a time for reflection, a call for truth, and an invitation to responsibility.
Said he: “We remember the lives lost. We honour the courage of the survivors. And we renew our pledge, never again. For the people of Rwanda, the 7th of April marks the beginning of a season of mourning. But this is not a mourning that incapacitates; rather, it is one that ignites purpose and spurs action, so that no nation, no people, ever again endure the horrors of genocide.”
Bazivamo said it is crucial to understand that the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi did not erupt spontaneously, stating, that it was the tragic culmination of decades of ethnically motivated discrimination, nurtured over time by colonial systems and later sustained by post-independence regimes.
His words: “The very seeds of the genocide were sown in this era of imposed division. These seeds were further cultivated by recurring cycles of violence, most notably including the unpunished killings of Tutsi people between 1959 and 1963. The absence of justice and accountability for these early atrocities, often referred to as the “First Republic massacres” and largely overlooked by the international community, served as ominous and tragic signs of the unimaginable horrors that lay ahead.
“In just 100 days between April and July 1994, over one million innocent men, women, and children, targeted because they were Tutsi, were slaughtered in one of the most horrific genocides in human history. Schools like this one were emptied of students and turned into places of horror, and indifference.”
The ambassador said during the killing of Tutsi, the world watched and failed to act, adding, that failure remains a powerful lesson.
He disclosed that the commemoration at BU, speaking directly to students is rooted in the undeniable truth that the youth, are the most powerful force for change and described then as the conscience of the present and the architects of the future. He warned that 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.”
“In our digital age, where information travels faster than truth, your role is more critical than ever. You are the ones who must question, who must learn, who must challenge division and prejudice wherever it rears its head. You are the most ones who can say: “Never again” and truly mean it,” he advised students.
The ambassador tasked the students to take up the responsibility, not just as Rwandans, not just as Nigerians, but as Africans and global citizens committed to justice and peace.
“For example, even in your interactions on social media, choosing to challenge hateful comments or stereotypes, rather than ignoring or amplifying them, is a small but significant act of responsibility.”
Bazivamo urged the students to study history, not just to remember the past, but also to protect the future. He further advised them to speak out against hate speech, no matter the platform and they use their education not only to succeed, but to serve, be ambassadors of peace, tolerance, and truth, in your homes, your communities, and your future careers.
“I thank Babcock University for hosting this Kwibuka 31 outreach. You have not only honoured the victims and survivors, you have joined a global community committed to remembrance and renewal. May our remembrance today be a beacon of hope and a call to action. And may your generation be the one that finally makes “never again” a lived reality,” the ambassador noted.