On May 3rd 2014, Africa Innovation Prize (AIP) held its award ceremony for the business idea challenge it carried out in March.
Nine winners emerged from University of Rwanda across all its colleges and the event was hosted by the University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics.
“The competition was opened to all students in University of Rwanda where students were expected to write their viable business ideas in 250 words,” said Herve Kubwimana, the Country Director for AIP in Rwanda as he opened the ceremony.
“We received more than 300 applications from which our judges worked tirelessly to sift through and select the 9 winners for the phase one of the competition.
The participation across colleges shows College of Business and Economics (CBE) leading with 34% followed by College of Science and Technology (CST) with 24% and College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM) with 17%.
Agriculture and Food processing was a leading industry in the business ideas presented followed by ICT and Manufacturing.
“It is the mission of AIP to inspire and support university entrepreneurship and through this competition it holds every year, more students are given the opportunity to be self-employed,” said Mr. Apollo Munanura, Head of the Human Capital & Institutional Development department at Rwanda Development Board.
“We at RDB support initiatives inclined to youth employment, entrepreneurship as is this case and youth skill development.”
The guest of honour, Dr. Marie Christine Gasingirwa, Director of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Education, applauded the students who applied and won the challenge noting an increase in interest in business ideas in projects around Agriculture, ICT and healthcare.
“If we can have students drawing ideas in their skills and combining across colleges as is the vision of University of Rwanda, students will not only be able to suffice their livelihoods but uplift those around them and foster in building Rwanda’s economy.”
“Students should take up these opportunities that give them real life experience on what they are learning in business courses we provide and I would like to congratulate the winners of the first round of the competition,” said Dr. Papias Malimba, Principal of the College of Business and Economics.
The winners of the competition are: Eric Mutabazi, Vestine Dukeshimana, Mariam Muganga, Rogers Kimuli, Theodomir Sebazungu, Fabrice Niyibizi, Dioscore Shikama, Carine Ndacyayisenga, and Aimable Nzabakurana and each got an award of Rwf 200,000 for their business idea in a bid to further them in developing their business idea to a business plan and enter the next phase of the competition.
The ceremony ended up with a networking event where students interacted with the guests as well as their entrepreneurial peers.
The African Innovation Prize’s work and programme in Rwanda are sponsored by DeLaRue and the Segal Family Foundation.
{Winners of the Business idea challenge with the guests}
{From left to right, Dr. Christine Gasingirwa, Vestine (one of the winners) and Dr. Papias}
{{Participants of the award ceremony}}
{{ {The African Innovation Prize’s work and programme in Rwanda are sponsored by DeLaRue and the Segal Family Foundation.} }}
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