INES-Ruhengeri Land Survey Students Explore Business Opportunities in Kinigi

On October 10, 2024, INES-Ruhengeri's Land Survey Year 4 students ventured on an enriching field trip to Kinigi, meticulously organized by Dr. Muhayimana Victoire, who teaches the Entrepreneurship and Project Management module. To accommodate the large group, Dr. Muhayimana invited Mr. Maniragaba Jean Baptiste, a tutorial assistant in the Land Survey Department, to co-lead the excursion. This trip offered students a valuable opportunity to engage with real-world entrepreneurial ventures, exploring how strategic land use and management can fuel business growth in the region. Through hands-on experiences, the students gained practical insights into leveraging land assets to support sustainable entrepreneurship.

The Year 4 Land Survey students visited several notable entrepreneurial hubs in Kinigi, including the Naming Center, a community-focused initiative promoting sustainable development, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a key player in environmental conservation and eco-tourism. They also explored the Kinigi Community Commercial Complex, a rapidly growing business center that serves as a platform for local entrepreneurs.

The purpose of this field trip was to explore how land management can foster entrepreneurial activities. The students were able to see firsthand how businesses in sectors like tourism, conservation, and commerce leverage Kinigi’s unique natural and cultural assets. This exposure to successful ventures provided them with practical knowledge on how to align land management practices with business opportunities in a way that benefits both the economy and the environment.

This hands-on experience allowed the Land Survey students to witness how strategic land use can drive entrepreneurship and economic growth while preserving natural resources. Through discussions with local business leaders and entrepreneurs, they gained valuable insights into how sustainable land practices can create new opportunities in industries like tourism and eco-friendly commerce.

The field trip not only broadened their understanding of land management but also gave them practical tools to spot business opportunities in their future careers. It reinforced the importance of applying innovative and sustainable solutions to real-world challenges, inspiring them to think creatively about how they can contribute to Rwanda’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Land Survey students left the trip with a renewed sense of purpose, equipped with valuable insights into spotting business opportunities and applying creative solutions to real-world challenges. As Rwanda’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to expand, the lessons learned from this field trip will undoubtedly shape the future careers of these aspiring entrepreneurs. By blending land management expertise with entrepreneurship, these students are poised to make a meaningful impact on both local communities and the broader economy, driving sustainable growth for years to come.