The conference was organized by UR in collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Africa Electronic Trade Group, an organization that promotes digital technology to enhance trade across African countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Nkurunziza stressed that effective research should address real-world problems rather than remain confined to academic publications. \u201cA researcher works to solve a problem. We no longer want our research to remain on paper or in books where no one reads it,\u201d he said. \u201cOur goal is to ensure that research findings and student innovations are applied to strengthen Rwanda\u2019s business environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained that the university is working to connect students with industries, enabling them to apply their knowledge and foster entrepreneurship among graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the conference, both current students and alumni showcased innovative business projects and research-driven solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Alex Kabayiza, Senior Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), described the event as an important opportunity for students to present their work to investors, researchers, and private sector stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said Rwanda\u2019s business growth will depend on the extent to which university research is translated into practice. \u201cUniversities are centers of innovation and knowledge creation. What we need now is to align academic research with the realities of the business world,\u201d Dr. Kabayiza noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that research should not end in publications but should empower students to implement their ideas, create jobs, and drive national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Kabayiza also urged young people to embrace entrepreneurship, aligning with Rwanda\u2019s goal of creating 1.25 million jobs over the next five years averaging 250,000 new jobs each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among those embodying this vision is Nshimiyimana Noel Ernest, a UR alumnus who founded a small food-processing enterprise specializing in cereal-based flour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his idea emerged from research on child malnutrition conducted while studying at UR\u2019s Musanze campus. \u201cIt was challenging at first due to limited capital, but I refused to give up,\u201d Nshimiyimana said. \u201cToday, my company is valued at about Rwf 4 million and produces roughly one ton of porridge flour per day, which we supply to shops nationwide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initiative reflects the University of Rwanda\u2019s broader mission to transform academic research into tangible solutions that support the country\u2019s economic and social progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The University of Rwanda (UR) has unveiled plans to utilize research conducted across its colleges to address key challenges in the country\u2019s business sector and stimulate sustainable economic growth. Speaking at a two-day international conference on Research for Business Development in Africa, held in Kigali from October 30 to 31, 2025, Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza, Principal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1626"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1630,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1626\/revisions\/1630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/hafashwe_ifoto_y_urwibutso-61-5e753.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/africadiplomacy.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ubwo_nshimiyima_ernest_yerekanaga_ibikorwa_bye-f782a.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n