The American University of Nigeria (AUN) hosted Kwibuka 31, the annual commemoration of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi, on April 23, 2025. Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria H.E. Christophe Bazivamo joined AUN President Dr. DeWayne Frazier, faculty, staff, and students to honor over one million victims and reflect on the theme ‘Remember, Unite, Renew.’
Held at the university’s e-Library Auditorium, the solemn ceremony reflected the 2025 Kwibuka theme, emphasizing the importance of historical truth, collective healing, and the shared responsibility of preventing future atrocities.
Dr. DeWayne Frazier, President of AUN, addressed the audience by underlining the global consequences of division and inaction. “The genocide was a preventable tragedy,” he said. “They were people living in peace and harmony before colonial powers arrived and imposed classifications that bred division and animosity."
Ambassador Bazivamo in his remark called on the international community, especially young people and media professionals, to uphold historical truth and actively combat genocide denial and hate speech. “This is not just a commemoration, but it's a time for reflection, a call for the truth, meditation and responsibility,” the ambassador stated. “The genocide was a systematic, ethnically motivated discrimination, orchestrated over time by the colonial system and sustained by post-colonial administration. It was largely overlooked by the international community.”
He emphasized the importance of accurate representation in journalism and academic work and urged students and young writers to preserve the integrity of Rwanda’s history.
The ceremony included a moment of silence, the lighting of remembrance candles, and the screening of documentary films detailing the events of the genocide and Rwanda’s journey toward reconciliation and national unity. The event served as a powerful reminder of the university’s role in fostering global citizenship and historical awareness among its students.
Reported by John Abah