Business is about turning ideas into money -Miss Rwanda 2021 contestants told
Succeeding in business is not about having a lot of capital but rather smart ideas that bring solutions to the society, which can be turned into money
This is the message that was given to Miss Rwanda 2021 contestants by businessman Olivier Mugabo Nizeyimana on Saturday March 13, 2021, during a session on entrepreneurship.
Mugabo and his wife, Chantal Rwemarika Mugabo, who are the owners of Volcano Express, one of the leading transport companies in Rwanda, and Hyundai Rwanda, who represents Hyundai in Rwanda, gave the contestants tips to make them successful in business.
Mugabo, one of the youngest successful businessmen in Rwanda, told the contestants that he started small 22 years ago, while he was still a student at the National University of Rwanda (UNR), with his main capital being the idea he conceived.
“First, you have to identify a problem in your community and then come up with an idea that will solve the problem and turn it into a business,” Mugabo told the contestants.
“When I was a student at the university in Huye, I realised there was a problem of lack of transport means between Huye and Kigali. Over the weekend, I could see stranded people and students wishing to go to Kigali but had no means,” Mugabo told the contestants.
He said that at first, he would organise buses for students to travel to Kigali but as time went on, he saw an opportunity to link Huye to Kigali. Armed with a good idea, he approached a car importer and sold his idea to them.
He knew it was a risky idea to acquire the first buses on loan with a plan of paying back but it was a risk worth taking. Though he was able to raise some capital from his family, it was the idea that proved to be his major asset.
“When they trusted me with the two buses on credit, I knew it was my time to turn my idea into reality. My main goal was to provide timely and efficient services,” Mugabo recalled, saying that he personally ensured the day-to-day running of the business.
In a short time, Volcano Express had become a household name and after plying the Huye route, he thought of adding other routes in the province where there was a challenge of transport means linking Kigali and those districts.
In a short time, his fleet started growing. Today, Volcano Express has a fleet of over 140 medium and large buses, plying local routes covering the Southern Province and regional routes linking Rwanda to the East African Community (EAC).
Domestic routes cover Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe, reaching the Akanyaru border post. Volcano Express also operates the Kigali-Rusizi-Rusizi-Kigali like while in the region it operates the Kigali-Kampala route. The company also operates in Burundi.
Volcano Express employs over 280 people and has offices in 11 locations and combines passenger transportation with courier services.
Mugabo and his wife told the contestants that they owe their success to perseverance and making the right decisions with money but most importantly, providing good customer service, which is the cornerstone of their business.
The business couple emphasized the importance of family values and being supportive of each other as one of the key drivers of business growth.
Advice to the girls
Mugabo told the girls that Miss Rwanda has given a platform which can make it easy for them to sell their ideas and bring them to life but at the same time they have to be self-confident in terms of marketing their ideas.
“You are not here by accident. You were chosen because you were the best. Use that opportunity appropriately. You should also remember that being in this contest puts you in the spotlight. People will be focusing on what you will be doing,”
“Don’t be distracted by anything. As you go after your dreams and ideas, you will come across many distractions, including people who want to lead you into negative things but it is up to you to resist them,” Mugabo said.
He said that by the time they started Hyundai Rwanda, they were already established but the idea came out of the need to solve another problem that existed in Rwanda.
Mugabo said that people needed nice but affordable vehicles and when more Hyundai vehicles started coming into Rwanda, there was a need for a service garage, which Hyundai Rwanda set up.
Today, Hyundai Rwanda is the official representative of the South Korean auto manufacturer, Hyundai Motor Company, in Rwanda. Hyundai Rwanda will give the winner of Miss Rwanda a brand-new Hyundai Creta 2021, valued at Rwf38m.
Mugabo and his wife Chantal said that they decided to partner with Miss Rwanda because they saw it as an opportunity to empower girls. Apart from the grand prize, Volcano Express will reward the first runner-up with an opportunity to work with them.
