RWANDA EVENTS FEATURE

Rwanda Events Group Ltd — Building an international company for the next generation

Christian Gakwaya is an entrepreneur and motoring enthusiast, who founded Rwanda Events Group Ltd, a Rwandan homegrown company that organises events, conferences, and concerts. He started this venture in 2009 while still a student, offering event support services at various meetings, to earn an extra income.

Under Christian’s leadership, as chief executive officer and founder, Rwanda Events has delivered several prominent events for government bodies, multinationals, and international organisations. Christian is deeply committed to mentoring young professionals in Rwanda, aiming to empower them to reach their full potential within the events sector. This commitment forms the core of his professional ethos.

Christian has over 16 years of extensive experience in the events industry. He has grown his company from a small agency, to one of the leading international events management companies in Rwanda. Starting with six team members in 2009, it now has seventy staff.

Christian is an alumnus of Africa Leadership University, holding an MBA, and he has also completed the Senior Executive Programme at Columbia Business School, further enhancing his leadership and strategic capabilities.

Christian said the turning point for Rwanda Events and the industry in Rwanda was when the government introduced the MICE strategy through the Rwanda Convention Bureau in 2014. “We aligned with government’s policy to grow the business events industry and position Rwanda as the hub. The Rwanda Convention Bureau assisted with training. They also educated us on the business events sector and its importance to the country. Today, it is one of the economic pillars of our economy.”

Between 2016 and 2019, the Rwandan government invested in key infrastructure, including facilities such as the Kigali Convention Centre, BK Arena, and Kigali Marriott Hotel, in addition to the national airline that connects Rwanda to many global hubs.

Christian said: “Today, the MICE industry is still growing in Rwanda and we are working hard to ensure that we keep our value proposition higher, and appealing to events owners that are looking for their next host.”

“We are building an international company for the next generation,” Christian added.

Skills development

Our company is passionate about repositioning the next generation through skills development and training.

Rwanda Events recently launched its own Academy — focusing for the first intake on the AV segment. “The demand is quickly surpassing the available talents in this area. We enrolled the first intake of fifteen fresh graduates, who are undergoing six months of inhouse training.

Christian said: “We would like to make this a proper academy and get education partners onboard to assist. This means that Rwanda Events can grow its training to various segments in the industry.”

Reach out

Website: www.rwandaevents.com

Email: info@rwandaevents.com

Tel: +250-785-800-000