It was a night of celebrations and awards fused with food, drink and entertainment as young Rwandan innovators and entrepreneurs converged for an innovation gala at The Office co-working space in Kiyovu on Friday night. 

Organized by ELE (Emerging Leaders and Entrepreneurs) Rwanda, the event sought to recognize, honor and celebrate various innovations and creative initiatives championed by young people across the country.

In all, three awards and one certificate were given out during the night.

The awards fell under three categories; Innovator of The Year, Peer2Peer, and the Youth Champion awards.

The Innovator of The Year award was for a young entrepreneur/innovator with a product or service that is unique and impactful to Rwanda, while the Peer2Peer award sought to recognise a young person who is giving back to other young people by developing themselves and bringing others along through inspiration and mentorship.

The Youth Champion Award was meant for an organization or institution that encourages and empowers young people to reach their potential through entrepreneurship.

Patrick Buchana, the co-founder and CEO of AirClerk Ltd scooped the Innovator of The Year award, while Aphrodice Mutangana of the Incike Initiative took the Peer2Peer award.

Meanwhile, the Workforce Development Authority scooped the Youth Champion award.

AirClerk Ltd is a company that created a card based, cashless payment system for public transport in Rwanda.

Working in partnership with government, the company has been credited with creating a smart transport system for a smart city as envisioned in the country’s Vision 2020.

The company recently launched another usage for the cards, in partnership with Airtel. They can now be used in shops, at events in stadiums, or in restaurants. The company is planning on expanding to Ivory Coast where it will be working with the national bus company -Sotra.

Meanwhile the Incike initiative is a non-profit organisation of young ICT entrepreneurs that supports the survivors of 1994 genocide against Tutsi. The initiative primarily focuses on elderly survivors above the age of 70 whose families were decimated. Using ICT knowledge, these young entrepreneurs created a mobile application that helps people around the country to contribute money in an effort to support these survivors with their dietary needs, food and shelter.

Held at the rooftop of The Office co-working space in Kiyovu, the gala attracted different people who included: students, innovators, entrepreneurs, mentors and investors.

Also in attendance were Ms. Maria Håkansson, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Swedish Embassy in Kigali, and the Dutch ambassador Ms.Leoni Cuelenaere.

Also in attendance were Bridge2Rwanda scholars, and students of Agahozo Shalom youth village who are part of the Art Science Rwanda program of ELE.

Speaking at the event, Yves Iradukunda, the founder and CEO of ELE Rwanda explained that the awards were a symbolic win for all Rwandan youths that dedicate their efforts to innovation:

"We want to emphasize that the awards being given out tonight are symbolic –they represent all the young people out there that are not here tonight. We are aware of the so many innovations and creative initiatives championed by young people all around the country. All the young people who dare to dream big, who are aspiring to create an impact that is beyond themselves.”

Patrick Buchana, the winner of the Innovator of The Year award said: "What we want all our partners and stakeholders to know is that we are capable. We have talent. And we can create solutions that can be delivered on the global scene, not just in Rwanda. What we are asking is simple: Can you believe in us to deliver solutions for a better country, a better continent, a better universe? That’s all we are asking tonight.”

The Emerging Leaders and Entrepreneurs of Rwanda (ELE Rwanda) is a youth-oriented innovation and entrepreneurship platform with a mission to "inspire, motivate and empower young adults to become active participants in the economy and development of Rwanda”.