The Minister in the president’s office in charge of ICT, last week, called upon university students to be innovative if they are to contribute to the development of the economy.

The Minister, made the remarks while speaking at the launch of an online market facility created by two students from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

For two years, the students embarked on the online project that has turned out to be a platform for people to, electronically, buy and sell goods in Rwanda, from wherever they are.

The new facility will operate the same way as the world’s top online markets, like eBay.com and Amazon.com, which provide electronic transactions and home delivery.

The innovation by the University students, will not only create job opportunities, but facilitate trade at the local as well as international level.

While the students took advantage of the Government’s ICT to set up their online market, there are various policies that favour innovation and universities should take advantage of them, since they have students and faculty whose role includes research.

The environmental policy has seen the development in biogas used as a substitute for firewood, whose use adversely affects the environment.

Whereas innovation is desirable, the process can be long and expensive. However, through increasing investment in research, especially in universities, there is no doubt that more innovation will be created.

Indeed, investment in research should not be left to the Government alone. Private companies can dedicate a portion of their profits to research in areas where they may have interest or support the universities, as part of their social responsibility.

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