The software engineer was declared winner by Nelson Tugumu, CEO of Inspire Africa, at the grand finale in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday, 1 April 2012. Iribagize beat 23 other youthful contestants from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda to the prize in the televised business competition which kicked off in January this year.
Only three contestants made it to the final of Project Inspire Africa, a human capital development organisation which focuses on grooming and supporting youthful African entrepreneurs.
At the grand finale, Iribagiza, the CEO at HeHe Limited, a mobile applications development firm in Kigali, said the cash prize will be used to advance her business in East Africa.
The competition was planned in 15 tasks-based episodes, with each individual episode specifically designed to bring out the best of each candidate as pertains a specific practical business skill. The CEO sought the very best out of each candidate and the worst performers were eliminated
Davis Musinguzi, a runner-up, was also lucky to win US$50 000 from mobile telecommunications company, Warid Telecom, for his deserving health service entrepreneurial project. Warid Telecom was one of the key sponsors of the show.
Musinguzi, founder of Medical Concierge, a 24/7 doctors on call service, is a consultant with the UNICEF Health Systems Division, working on digitizing Uganda's Health Care System. His dream is to take 24/7 medical services to every corner of the African continent.
Manuella Pacutho, another runner-up received US$15 000 from Graham Power, founder and board chairman of Power Group in South Africa; Amos Wekesa, the CEO at Great Lakes Safaris; and Ugandan renowned consultant Peter Kimbowa.
Pachuto also received free fares to any travel of RwandAir's destination routes for a whole year. Pachuto, the creative director at Watoto Child Care Ministries, is set to set up a fully fledge experiential learning school to equip children with practical and valuable education.
Speaking at the finale, Power inspired the youth in Africa to do business in an ethical manner if they want Africa to prosper. "Keep your promise. Our word is our honor, so we have to stick to it. We have to commit to ethics, values and clean business."
Power also challenged the youth to acquire skills before venturing into business. "Get some knowledge and experience before you start business. I had to get my hands dirty and experience to get where I'm."
Tugume called for support for African businesses to address the continent's needs and overcome its challenges. "We have to believe our entrepreneurs that is what is going to define us," Tugume said.
For more, go to www.inspireafrica.co.ug/welcome
