SINA GERARD Ese Urwibutso supporting job creation, people’s welfare

Dr. Sina Gerard, the proprietor and Managing Director Ese Urwibutso says his business has impacted the wellbeing of 5000 families in the various sectors of operation.

Since its establishment in 1983, at Nyirangarama in Rulindo District, Northern Province about 45 km from Kigali City, on Kigali Musanze – Rubavu highway, Ese Urwibutso has grown from a small shop to not only multiple branches around the country but also export business.

After years of producing from 2006, Sina has claimed several national and international awards including from Germany, France, Switzerland, US, and the UK.

Sina has exhibited his products at several national and international exhibitions, helping him meet with other food processing companies.

International exhibitions serve as good platforms to acquire best practices which are applicable, thereby helping him maintain product quality and uniqueness.

Exhibitions also are viable avenue for businesses to expose their products, share new skills and expand their networks, he says.

Quality brand 

Ese Urwibutso’s brand is synonymous with quality. For that, SINA GERARD Ese Urwibutso’s products have acquired ISO standard marks provided by Rwanda Standards Board, and United Arab Emirates, Standardization Mark (S-Mark), which for other companies exist in dreams. These enable the company to sell to the international markets.

Products

Agashya passion juice

Agashya pineapple juice

Agashya strawberry juice

Akabanga chili oil

Strawberry jam

Honey

Akarusho red grape wine

Akarusho white grape wine

Akarusho grape wine

Akandi natural mineral water

Akarabo biscuit

Hot Ketchup

Donut urwibutso

Akanozo sorghum and maize flour

Besides production business, Ese Urwibutso counts several other activities including in sports and education as part of its portfolio.

Women aged between 45-70 years from Rulindo district have been facilitated by the company to participate in sporting activities for health.

They formed a traditional troupe where they meet, train and perform at functions.

The women have trained young people about traditional dance, singing and poems.

Dr. Sina says the training helps young people get the best from the old people who are informed about Rwanda’s tradition and culture.

The company boasts of a football team, acrobatics, cultural troupe and church choir.

 The athletics team has earned various accolades in Europe and the UK.

The athletics team does not only represent the company but the country as a whole.

In education, meanwhile, the company opened College Foundation Sina Gerard which offers vocational and technical skills.

The college enrolls children from nursery to secondary O’ Level and nine other sections that every Rwandan resonates with. Pupils study free in primary.

“We owe all this to good governance of the country which enables us to think critically to achieve all this,” he says.

The College has agriculture and veterinary departments, food processing as well as TVET with nine trades, including building, carpentry, welding, hair dressing, tailoring and motor vehicle mechanics.

Some of the graduates are employed to operate machines in company’s factory, while others develop software systems and make formulas used to add more value to the products.

Graduates from the school straight away acquire a job, according to Sina, who also set aside a day to deliver some lessons.

His wish is to see all students who passed through this college employed.

Author

The father of five was born in 1963, in Bushoki Sector, Nyirangarama Cell of Rulindo District in Northern Province. 

He is nicknamed Nyirangarama because of the impact of his business in his community.

Sina is committed to local development. As such, he helped upgrade a feeder road in Bushoki which eased transport to production areas.

He says this aligns with the advice of President Kagame to rebuild the country “beginning from our local areas while we look at the global stage.”

Sina has authored books detailing his business journey. In the books he shares relevant entrepreneurial insights to inspire job creation.

He believes the books will help Rwandans learn from the company’s business model and probably be able to start their own businesses.

He is looking at expanding his College to a university in the coming years.

His books are entitled; Dr. Sina Gerard, the Innovator and You Also Can.

What people say

Those that Dr. Sina has supported do not hide their excitement.

Gregory Kamiri said joining College Foundation Sina Gerard was life-changing experience.

“I joined Entreprise Urwibutso as a worker but realized I lacked necessary skills. Since Sina is also into education he offered to pay my fees when I opted to study agronomics. He has a generous heart. He pays fees even for my child studying in Primary Two.”

During holidays Kamiri works at Entreprise Urwibutso.

Pascaline Umutoniwase, a student, met Dr. Sina while in primary school.

He offered to support her after realizing she came from a poor family. He has offered to educate her up to university. Besides scholastics, he provides financial support for her other personal effects. He offered her a paid work opportunity during holidays.

Jose, welds doors, windows and other materials at Entreprise Urwibutso workshop.

The workshop employs many people who qualified from College Foundation Sina Gerard.

She opted to join the male-dominated profession after learning that Sina considers gender in recruitment.

She is able to provide for her immediate needs without difficult.

Beatrice Nyiramahoro, mother of five said Dr. Sina pays for their children’s school fees and health insurance.

“I cannot thank him enough, he gives us endless opportunities. I’m also now able to support others,” she says.

Another female employee likened Dr. Sina to a parent.

“I was hardened up financially without shelter, cultivation land and even basic utensils,” she said.

Ever since she joined Ese Urwibutso, she feels financially empowered, living a better life and hopeful for a better future.

Sina provided her a dairy cow and she sells milk to the company.

Jerome Dusengimana, agronomist student said with enough practical at school he doesn’t feel challenged when he goes to the field.

“I feel pride studying here. He is inspiring to us. Practical is priority at the college. Crucially, we have access to Entreprise Urwibutso factory to see how things are done. Sina even talks to us showing us how he made his achievements. With factory experience I cannot fail to operate a machine when I get out because I have seen and learned how they operate from the factory.”