For many IT and engineering graduates, the hardest lessons begin after school ends. Classroom training can cover the theory, but the first job often demands something else: confidence in the field, quick judgment and the ability to solve problems in real time.

That gap is what pushed Adolphe Ibyikora to start OfficeHomeTechX, a Kigali-based company and training platform aimed at preparing young people for work in the technical services sector.

Ibyikora, who graduated in network engineering from INES Ruhengeri in 2023, said his own shift from student to technician was humbling. He entered the field thinking he already knew enough, then discovered that hardware repairs, network support and troubleshooting looked different outside school.

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Working under mentors with years of field experience changed that perspective and eventually led him to create a company that would help others make the same transition with less trial and error.

OfficeHomeTechX focuses on practical skills that employers and clients need every day. The academy trains students in cyber security, EV charging infrastructure installation, network and Wi-Fi support, CCTV installation, ICT support and both on-site and online assistance.

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That means everything from protecting computers and accounts from attack, to setting up internet coverage in homes or offices, to installing surveillance cameras and helping customers solve problems without being physically present.

For Ibyikora, the idea grew out of observation. He had already been fixing PCs, handling hardware and software issues and working on networks before stepping fully into the field. Once he began working alongside seasoned technicians, he saw how much demand existed for hands-on support that school alone had not fully prepared him for.

He also saw a business opportunity. Rwanda’s construction boom and growing demand for connected buildings have created more work for technicians who can install, maintain and troubleshoot digital systems.

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Ibyikora says high-rise developments, stronger internet use and the spread of modern infrastructure are increasing the need for skilled workers who can handle jobs that might otherwise take much longer to complete. For IT graduates, that opens a path that goes beyond office jobs and into hands-on technical services where speed and reliability matter.

Ibyikora said the first cohort was trained before the company had completed accreditation with the Rwanda TVET Board, so participants focused mainly on skills development. The second cohort, which begins on August 1, will also receive certificates once training is completed, pending the ongoing accreditation process.

"The certification matters for students looking to enter the workforce with more than informal experience. It gives them a record of what they have learned while also making the training more useful for employers who want proof of practical competency,” he said.

For graduates in IT and related technical fields, the model offers a direct path into work that often depends on experience more than academic results alone. "It also gives aspiring technicians a chance to learn while earning, since trainees are paid for the work they do rather than treated as free labor.”