The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) recently released the final results of the Fourth Population and Housing Census that among others indicated that general life expectancy had reached 64.5 years in 2012 from 51.2 years in 2002. The report put national population at 10.5 million showing an increase of 2.4 million in 10 years with an annual average growth rate of 2.6 per cent.

The Director General of NISR Yusuf Mago Murangwa says, improvement in life expectancy is as a result of the policies that decision makers come up with after using information provided by NISR; saying this is one the most significant ways that the Institute contributes towards national development.

Challenges

The work of NISR involves skills intensive activities which Murangwa says require highly qualified human resource based on the complexicity of the tasks involved. The issue of qualified skills is the most challenging factor. To build the skills of its employees, NISR developed three approaches.

These include training them (employees) in hands-on-skills through mentors in various fields of NISR activities. The other form is supporting employees to enroll for short courses within and outside the country while others go for upgrading to acquire more skills for efficiency and effectiveness.

He says the building of capacity for employees is a continuous process to enable NISR keep its Building on existing human resource has enabled building of staff competence. Murangwa says it’s everyone’s responsibility to work towards this country’s development. He commends efforts towards a unified Rwanda Identity as we mark the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“As we mark 20 years since the genocide happened, it is time to look back and get focused on the development of our country so as to have a better future for the generations to come,” he advises.