Three students from the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK) have emerged as winners in the inaugural UNILAK Agribusiness Innovation Competition 2025, an event aimed at promoting youth-driven solutions for sustainable agriculture and economic growth. The competition, held on Friday, May 9, at the UNILAK campus in Kigali, awarded top innovators with cash prizes and entry into a six-month business incubation programme. Funded by the European Union through the “Universities Promoting Linkages for Impactful Training, Innovation and Technology Transfer in Agriculture” (UPLIFT-AG) initiative, the competition provided a platform for students to pitch innovative agribusiness ideas. All participants selected from UNILAK received certificates of participation and will benefit from expert mentorship, resources, and access to professional networks through the university’s Agribusiness Incubation and Innovation Hub. Delphine Uwera was crowned the top winner for her project on bamboo cultivation with a cash prize of Rwf 300,000. A young entrepreneur from Masaka, Kicukiro, Uwera already runs a bamboo processing business that manufactures items like chairs, beds, trays, and lampshades. She plans to use the exposure, mentorship, and funds to expand bamboo planting, increase output, and create more jobs. “After high school in 2016, I struggled to find a job. I then joined a bamboo training programme led by Chinese experts and later started my own business. Today, I employ 11 full-time staff and casual workers. This opportunity is a chance to grow further, solve bamboo supply challenges, and train more youth,” Uwera noted after her win. Nazer Izabayo came in second with his project, AI-powered smart farm management, which proposes using artificial intelligence to optimise crop and livestock production. Justin Niyigena placed third for his innovative agri-safe storage solution, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses by providing affordable, climate-controlled storage systems. According to Dr Christophe Mupenzi, the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies and coordinator of the UPLIFT -Ag project, the event is part of a broader push to support students beyond traditional classroom learning. “We want our students to go beyond theory and discover real-world solutions. This competition is just one of many opportunities we are creating to link academic training with economic empowerment,” Mupenzi told attendees. Mupenzi noted that the Faculty of Environmental Studies at UNILAK is equipped with various resources including soil and water testing laboratories, a GIS lab, and the agribusiness incubation centre facilities intended to support students in transforming academic knowledge into actionable business ventures. The UPLIFT-AG project, launched in December 2023 and running until 2026, is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union. It involves a consortium of 12 higher education institutions from nine African countries and three European nations; Germany, Italy, and Denmark. In Rwanda, the project is co-implemented by UNILAK and the University of Rwanda’s College of Agriculture. The competition selection criteria were rigorous, with participants judged on innovation and creativity (25 per cent), feasibility (20 per cent), scalability and impact (20 per cent), team composition (15 per cent), prototype development (10 per cent), and business model viability (10 percent). Dr Ephrard Rulinda, the UNILAK’s Dean of Students, noted that the initiative represents a fundamental shift in how universities approach student development. “Our goal is not just to produce job seekers, but job creators. These platforms help students test, refine, and grow their business ideas into sustainable enterprises,” he said. He added that the institution plans to host similar competitions every three months and that the Faculty of Environmental Studies will soon introduce a new department of Agribusiness. “This is how we turn ideas into impact. We are planting the seeds of Rwanda’s future agri-preneurs,” Rulinda stated. The participants will now enter a six-month incubation period during which they will receive mentorship from agricultural and business development experts. They will also benefit from shared workspaces, training workshops, and access to local and international networks. Mupenzi explained that while the monetary awards recognised outstanding pitches, the real support comes during the incubation period. “The funds awarded today were simply a reward for excellence. Over the next six months, we will walk with these young entrepreneurs from ideation to implementation. Some are already in business but need structure, others are just starting out. We will guide them to viability.” The event was an eye-opener for other students in attendance, many of whom were unaware of the incubation opportunities available at the university. Faculty leaders encouraged them to start developing their own business ideas and take advantage of future calls for applications under the UPLIFT-Ag project. “You don't need to wait until graduation. You have access to facilities and mentors now. All it takes is initiative. When you act, the university will support you,” Mupenzi told students.
