LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- It’s 31 years after the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a harrowing period in 1994 when over one million people were brutally murdered within 100 days.
In solemn remembrance of this tragedy, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, hosted a commemorative event, Kwibuka31, bringing together students, academics, diplomats, and human rights advocates to honor the victims, support the survivors, and reflect on the global lessons of unity, justice, and peace.
The event was held at the 600 seater auditorium at the university’s College of Health and Medical Sciences.
Speaking, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Ademola Tayo called the genocide a “horrific scar on the history of Rwanda” and a powerful reminder of “the evils of intolerance and the importance of international intervention.”
He emphasized that the atrocities were rooted in colonial manipulation and institutionalized hatred, and that remembrance must inspire a collective push toward tolerance, empathy, and justice.
“Let us reject the forces of division that seek to tear us apart,” he said. We must build a world where humanity is valued above all else,” he said.
In his keynote speech, Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria, Christophe Bazivamo, delivered a moving reflection on Rwanda’s painful past and powerful transformation.
Drawing parallels between Rwanda and Nigeria, he said, “Nigeria, like Rwanda, is a land of incredible diversity and potential. The lessons of Kwibuka are relevant here because peace is not just the absence of war. It is the presence of justice, the protection of dignity, and the celebration of differences.”
He addressed the students of Babcock University directly, urging them to carry the torch of remembrance into the future.
“Study history, not just to remember the past, but to protect the future. Speak out against hate speech, no matter the platform. Use your education not only to succeed, but to serve. Be ambassadors of peace, tolerance, and truth in your homes, your communities, and your future careers.”
“Let the memory of the victims fuel your commitment to human rights. Kwibuka is not a moment. It is a mindset. It is a way of living, every day, in honour of those we lost and in service of a future where every human life is valued,” he said.
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Ambassador Bazivamo gave a detailed historical overview of the genocide, tracing its roots to colonial-era policies that institutionalized ethnic divisions in Rwanda.
He described how Belgium’s racial classifications sowed seeds of discord that would eventually lead to systematic violence, first through massacres between 1959 and 1963, and ultimately culminating in the 1994 genocide under the leadership of Juvénal Habyarimana’s regime.
He lamented the global silence during the genocide and warned against repeating that mistake, particularly in light of the current humanitarian crisis in Eastern Congo, where genocidal forces, rebranded under new names, continue to target Tutsi communities.
“We must not forget that Rwanda warned the world once before. The cost of ignoring hate is too great to bear again.”
The commemorative event featured a moment of silence, a candlelight tribute, and testimonies from survivors, as well as musical and artistic performances by Babcock students that celebrated peace, resilience, and hope.
Also speaking, United Nation Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall said the genocide was premeditated and planned against the Tutsi people and must not be allowed to repeat itself.
He said the world must learn from the history of the genocide.
“Let’s be vigilant and promise to work together to build a world of justice and unity for all. We mourn the victims and sympathise with the survivors of the genocide,” he said.
