Rwanda’s Dieudonne Ishimwe has been honoured with the Continental Outstanding Brand of the Year 2019 Award by Jet Age National Builders for his outstanding efforts in turning Miss Rwanda project into a leading and celebrated brand in Africa.
Ishimwe is the Managing Director of Rwanda Inspiration Backup, and the brain behind Miss Rwanda, the annual beauty contest that gives young girls platform to expose what they dream to achieve.
He was among the awards recipients during the Jet Age Continental Dinner Night and Awards (JACDNA) held on Monday night at Kigali Marriott Hotel that recognised Individuals, institutions and organizations working for the advancement of the African continent.
The annual event is held to motivate, encourage and make known continental outstanding young African individuals, organisations, pace setters, goal getters, government officials, young political achievers, pillars of nations, SDGs champions, entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals and other distinguished achievers.
The event focuses on identifying and coaching young Africans from communities for national and continental advancement.
The Jet Age prize awarded to Ishimwe for his outstanding efforts in promoting Miss Rwanda.
Ishimwe said the prize is a motivation for him and his team to even do greater things in a continued drive to create a bigger platform for young girls to shine and ensure they play an outstanding role in developing projects that can impact the community.
"If you look at efforts we put in promoting the Miss Rwanda brand not only in Rwanda but also beyond borders, the prize can be a testament that our resilience and commitment on the project was not a waste of time. Being recognized means a lot to me because it shows us that the Miss Rwanda concept is only getting better,” Ishimwe told The New Times in a telephone interview.
He attributes the award to the roles played by Miss Rwanda winners, Jolly Mutesi, Elsa Iradukunda, Liliane Iradukunda and Meghan Nimwiza whose projects have been of great impact to the communities from across the country, and his efforts in promoting the beauty contest to the extent of attracting millions of people from across the globe through social media.
"The projects done by Miss Rwanda crown winners that positively touch communities’ lives, and the way they promote the country at international beauty contests gives our brand a vote of confidence and good visibility on the international scene. They have been really crucial in winning this prize and I am proud of them,” Ishimwe said.
Jet Age Nation Builders gathers thousands of the world's best young leaders together to learn to work in synergy for the birth of a peaceful and developing world.
"As a young personality, being recognised by a young generation is amazing and I am proud to be where I am now. It is really my first ever continental prize, but, hopefully, this is the beginning and I believe more things are yet to come,” he added.