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The Bank of Kigali Academy has officially launched its second cohort of the Entry Level Training Program that will breed the next generation of transformers and leaders in the banking, financial sector and Rwanda’s economy.
The Bank of Kigali Academy has officially launched its second cohort of the Entry Level Training Program that will breed the next generation of transformers and leaders in the banking, financial sector and Rwanda’s economy.
The class of 2023, that will spend three months of intensive training, is the second cohort following the launch of the BK Academy program in August, 2022 with 25 candidates selected out of 350 applicants.
BK academy was established to build a well-trained and knowledgeable young workforce with banking and business skills to occupy different roles in the Bank at entry level and bridge the gap in banking skills and human resources turnover in the sector.
The academy, located in the Kigali Special Economic Zone, will this year take in 25 graduate students in various fields, who were selected in a competitive selection process which attracted 1,000 applicants.
Bank of Kigali Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Diane Karusisi said that this time around the focus is on training a transformative workforce that will feed the Bank of Kigali and the financial sector at large.
Karusisi said that seven years ago when she joined the bank, she has seen BK play a significant role in the economic and financial transformation of the country and the new generation of BK staff should carry on this path.
“We want transformative leaders. Think of transforming the country and with that you will see the big picture of transformation and will wake-up with enthusiasm and passion to make it happen,” Dr. Karusisi told the 2nd cohort which started training this week.
The 25 trainees, of which 50% are women, were selected from different educational backgrounds and fields of sciences, economics, finance, international business, mechanical and civil engineering, agriculture, public health among others.
After three months of training, the best students with high marks in all aspects will be recruited as BK staff in different departments.
Karusisi said that this collection of skills will enable the bank to serve better in these sectors where BK has different services and operations but also serve as future leaders in Rwanda.
“You are bringing a wealth of ideas and transformation to the bank. We look forward to you joining the BK family and together transforming this country,” Karusisi stated.
Joseph Gondwe, the BK Chief People and Culture Officer leading the transformation of talent at the bank said that BK intends to build leaders, change and transformation agents and personnel that will support the development of Rwanda.
“The skills we are looking at here are leadership, problem solving, collaborative skills and they will not only learn banking but the needs of our customers,” Gondwe said.
Gondwe added that the trainees will have to exhibit a high level of innovation that will support Bank of Kigali and Rwanda’s transformational journey.
Besides core or traditional banking, trainees will go through more intense leadership courses and skills training such as: customer care, corporate banking, cyber security, compliance, marketing, human resources management, finance, business development, agribusiness, and understanding the market and the bank’s operations.
Sacrée Luminaire Umutoneshwa, one of the trainee’s representatives and graduate of Accounting at the University of Kigali said that she chose to join the academy to contribute to the bank’s transformation using her talent in hard work, multitasking and innovative financial solutions.
The 2023 cohort will not only have training sessions from a consultant, Orji Udemezue, the CEO Flame Academy and Consulting, but also other training companies like Garnet Partners and Leadership Impact solutions.
