University students have been urged to exploit the immense opportunities in the hospitality sector to start small businesses and create jobs for themselves and other youth.

Yves Ngenzi, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) MICE, promotion officer, said young people and students can set up income-generating projects like handicraft-making, milk churning, pottery, tour and catering services to tap revenue from tourists visiting national parks, recreational areas and other tourism attractions across the country.

Ngenzi was addressing University of Tourism, Business and Technology students at their campus in Kicukiro.

"We have few companies that deal in events co-ordination or those providing guiding services. It’s, therefore, an opportunity you can exploit to open up companies to provide these services,” he said.

According to David Mugume Nkuranga, the director of ICT Workforce Development Authority, the government supports youth with potential to create jobs for others. WDA also provides mentorship and training programmes for upcoming young entrepreneurs to help improve their skills and enable them to implement and manage their business start-ups properly.

He urged private sector players to always mentor and support young business operators to learn the skills they need to survive and grow.

Benon Ngabonziza, the director for youth and ICT at the Ministry of Youth and ICT, said youth empowerment through enterpreuship faces challenges like corruption and inadequate capital. However, you should not be discouraged by these challenges to venture into business, he added.

Theodor Nzabonimpa, the Beyond Gorilla’s Experiences, tour agency, challenged the youth to increase their knowledge on business management, particularly for start-ups, to run the ventures profitably.

Peace Umutoni, a student, said many young entrepreneurs lack capital, adding that taxes stifle growth of many start-ups.