Some of the products of Champion Grocers
Two Rwandan have been nominated among the finalists for 2020 Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Awards.
AWIEF pan-African entrepreneurship and innovation is a non-profit initiative which nurtures and actively promotes women innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, through its development programs of accelerators, and networking events, including the annual AWIEF Conference, Exhibition and Awards.
Ahead of the sixth AWIEF virtual conference this year, 24 women founders and entrepreneurs driving economic growth and development for Africa, have been selected as finalists for 2020 AWIEF Awards, from different African countries, across 8 different categories.
Irene Ochem, AWIEF founder and Chief Executive Officer said “this year more than ever, it is vital to acknowledge and celebrate women entrepreneurs in Africa for their leadership and innovation. The impact of the global pandemic has been disproportionate and devastating, and women are showing exceptional resilience.”
AWIEF said that among their lucky nominees this year are two Rwandans: Claudette Akimpaye, Founder and Managing Director, Agrizilla (Rwanda) and Jacqueline Mukashyaka, Chief Executive Officer, Champion Grocers (Rwanda) in the Tech and Agri Entrepreneur Awards respectively.
Agrizilla Rwanda is a social agri-tech enterprise in Northern Province of Rwanda working to provide sustainable digital solutions to all farmers, while Champion Grocers is a business that collects and processes organic vegetables into pulp and powder products to make different juice flavors and wines.
The 2020 AWIEF Awards winners will be announced on 3rd December at the awards ceremony during the two-day AWIEF2020 Virtual Conference. The theme this year is: ‘Reimagining business and rebuilding better’.
Winning the AWIEF could mean a lot for these companies which are targeting to go global in promoting made in Rwanda products.
Jacqueline Mukashyaka CEO Champion Grocers Ltd generates Rwf24million net profit annually. She has a plan to purchase a plot of land and build a processing factory in Kigali Special Economic Zone, increase the number of supplier farmers up to 1 million, and look for international markets.
Currently, the company has 2,117 farmers and 1,262 of them are women. The company started in 2015 with a focus of collecting, processing and selling organic vegetables and fruits from farmers (Individual, groups and cooperatives) across the country.
“We support and advise farmers wishing to improve their efficiency and profitability, add value to their products through processing, and help them to develop and adapt to address their client’s needs,” Mukashyaka told local media earlier on.
