Events

The University of Lay Adventists of Kigali received a delegation from Yonsei University in South Korea, on 4th of May 2023. The delegation was lead by Professor Dongwon Ahn. The delegation was received by Dr. Emmanuel HAKIZIMANA, the UNILAK Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics and Research together with Mr. NIYONKURU Richard, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance  and Professor Anthony Uwaya, the head of Partnerships. During the meeting, both parties discussed mutual areas of collaborations and partnerships specifically in areas of join research, joint curriculum development, joint projects, students and staff exchanges.

UNILAK has organized a two day seminar for academic staff in order to enhance the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, research and service rendered to the community among academic staff. The seminar took place from 11th April to 12th April, 2023 at UNILAK Kigali Campus where more than 70 lecturers were brought together. In his opening remarks, Prof. Ngamije Jean, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAK appreciated the participants for their tireless efforts in offering their best to students and urged them to actively participate in this seminar which is meant to add more to their knowledge. During the seminar, participants learnt how to prepare course materials and valid exams, how to deliver courses and manage class in the presentation done by Prof. Penine Uwimbabazi, The Vice Chancellor of Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences They were also told about the new Law governing educational institutions and other policies used in Higher Learning Institutions and were encouraged to comply with this law in their daily activities. Among the presentations were the use of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment; work ethics and quality service in teaching, learning and assessment; research activities and community service. Participants in the seminar were thrilled to learn more from experts and also for the opportunity to know each. They have requested for more seminars of this kind. Apart from these presentations; lecturers have elected their representative in the board of directors of the institution whereby Dr. Rulinda Ephrard, a lecturer in the faculty of Economic Sciences and Management won the election. The seminar ended on key notes of appreciation delivered by Dr Emmanuel Hakizimana, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics and Research to the presenters in the seminar as well as  participants  for their attention and active participants in the seminar. Participants were also given certificates of appreciation.

The University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Rwamagana Campus in partnership with Rwamagana District and LAND O’ LAKES VENTURE 37 Project organized a two day workshop on cooperative performance from 22nd to 23rd of March, 2023 at UNILAK Rwamagana Campus. The training was under the theme “improved management for cooperative sustainability” and revolved around the financial recording and cooperative auditing. Among the trainees were the cooperative managers and members of the audit committees. They were trained on basic skills concerning audit practices. They appreciated what they learnt and promised to use this knowledge in improving their cooperatives.

A consortium made up of Youth Engagement in Agriculture Network (YEAN) in partnership with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB) and the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), conducted a one-day event to launch two agricultural knowledge hubs, which are the AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATION AND INNOVATION HUB (AIIH)—UNILAK KIGALI HUB and AGRICULTURE KNOWLEDGE HUB on April 4th, 2023.   The event brought together youth and key project partners including the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), AGRA, Cordaid Rwanda, Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), the Private Sector Federation (PSF), CNFA Rwanda, Youth agripreneurs and   youth beneficiaries.  In his opening remarks, Mr. Etienne NIYIGABA, the project lead, stated that these facilities are available to everyone, particularly the youth under the Private Extension and Advisory Learning Experience (PEALE) program.   The Agribusiness Incubation and Innovation Hub will serve as a space for agripreneurs to facilitate their transition from ideas into strong and successful agri-businesses models. It will provide a co-working space, coaching and mentorship, network and linkages, and knowledge sharing to agripreneurs.   On the other hand, the Agriculture Knowledge Hub is a center for agriculture knowledge production, management and dissemination for effective extension and advisory services to farmers and agripreneurs.   Youth agripreneurs will use these hubs to develop and disseminate agriculture learning products, access incubation services to develop and scale their initiatives in agribusiness and innovation, and facilitate in strengthening youth led resilience programs including youth led private extension and advisory services.   In his speech, Dr. Emmanuel HAKIZIMANA, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics and Research of UNILAK expressed the pleasure, the University has, for hosting the Agribusiness Incubation and Innovation Hub and said that it is one of the university priorities to make impact in the community through different initiatives implemented with the community through their campuses in Kigali city, Nyanza and Rwamagana District. He added that UNILAK will be glad to facilitate the replication on the same hub to their other 3 campuses.   All speakers at the event reiterated prioritizing knowledge in agriculture especially in agribusiness to create diversified opportunities for job and wealth along the agriculture value chain.   Mr. Octave NSHIMIYIMANA, Director General of Agriculture Value Chain Management and Trade at MINAGRI, advised youth and participants to make good use of the resources that have been made available. He added that to achieve your objectives once you are exposed to opportunities, knowledge should be an integral part of the journey. He shared with youth available opportunities in the ecosystem from different partners for youth in agriculture and urged them to work hard to secure those opportunities.   The hubs are part of the implementation of the AIRTEA Project which seeks to contribute to achieving sustainable agrarian livelihoods and rural transformation by fostering an inclusive innovation environment with specific objectives of strengthening the capacities of youth and women in East Africa’s multi-stakeholder innovation platforms and link to solutions within national, regional, and global food systems.

The University of Lay Adventists of Kigali organized the first ever cultural diversity day which brought together all the students of the university coming from different countries “When we brought together our students in these extracurricular activities, it is an opportunity for us to show them that we are the same even through our cultures and that every culture must be preserved and respected”; said Mr Nyamaswa Ephron, the dean of students at UNILAK. The event saw different presentations from various nationalities which include dances, poems, traditional ceremonies like weddings. Emmanuel Patrick, a student in Law Faculty from Liberia, also a representative of international students attested that having a cultural diversity day in their university is a best welcome note for them as international students as it bridges any gap which could exist among them that any nationality is superior to others. Since 2019, UNILAK has become a home to students coming from more than 25 countries, especially West African countries.

In a colorful event held this September 15th, 2022 at its campus of Nyanza, the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK) celebrated its 25th anniversary. Being driven by the spirit of having their own school where their children could still grow in their faith, and being lead by the zeal of bringing their contribution to the rebirth of Rwanda after the genocide against Tutsi in 1994; Adventist parents sat together and resolutely decided to start their own institution of higher learning. “In this celebration which is the acclamation of a past rich in glory, it is towards, these founders, that our eyes must first turn. It was a difficult mission to which they were invited twenty-five years ago. To seal the restoration of Faith in Science, great intelligence and great hearts were needed. Closing our eyes to risks and obstacles, they have realized their purpose in all its fullness;” said Professor Jean Ngamije, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAK in his allocution. My profound thanks go to the Rwandan government and other important players who have contributed to our success over the last 25 years via their ongoing support and collaboration; we shall keep relying on this partnership. Added Professor Ngamije. The University of Lay Adventists of Kigali; an eminently national work, dear to all Rwandans and international community was founded by the esteemed Rwandan Lay Adventists parents; members of the Federation of Adventist Parents Associations for the Development of Education in Rwanda (FAPADER) which is an association of several lay Seventh day Adventist primary and secondary school that include: APACE, APADE, APAG, APADENYA, APAER, APARPE, APARUDE, ASPEJ, UMWUNGERI, and APADEM. God blessed us and enabled us to realize what we have been dreaming for. We are grateful for the good leadership of our country which gives us a good working environment and grant us many facilities as well as advices through its Ministry of Education and especially the Higher Education Council. May our God protect the country and its leaders, May God bless UNILAK and all its endeavors; said Pr. Ruhaya Ntwali Assiel; the UNILAK legal representative. His words were echoed by the delegate from the Ministry of Education; Engineer Pascal Gatabazi who hailed the university for a such milestone and for its contribution in education and also for the good values it instills in its students. He congratulated the founders of the schools and the progress made by the university since its creation. Created in 1997; UNILAK was fully accredited by the government of Rwanda through the Ministerial Order NO 002/09 of 09/04/2009. It has expanded its activities from Kigali City to Nyanza District in Southern Province and Rwamagana District in Eastern Province. “Seeing UNILAK at this silver jubilee is bliss for me. It is a blessing to have someone who fits in your shoes” I highly congratulate those who managed to continue what we have started for all they have done and for all they will continue to do as the university grow even further;” said Pastor MPYISI Ezra; one of the founders of UNILAK. The Governor of the Southern Province, Mrs KAYITESI Alice, in her speech has congratulated UNILAK for its contribution in the social economic development of its neighboring community and has promised all the support and collaboration to the institution. UNILAK; a hub of knowledge and wisdom has successfully initiated different programs and brought its contribution in scientific researches especially in cooperative management and development, environment management and natural resources protection as well as disaster and emergency management from 1997-2022 and this was in line with its mission of being a leading university in Africa and bringing its support to the development of the country. UNILAK gains huge reputation from the local, National and International level by the expansions of its social development activities and network. UNILAK sealed various agreements of partnership with different national, private and international institutions and organizations and from these partnerships; a Joint (by Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography- XIEG, a branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and UNILAK) Research Center for Natural Resources and Environment in East Africa was inaugurated in November 2016 and was therefore upgraded from national level to a regional level as part of SAJOREC (Sino-Africa Joint Research Center). UNILAK currently has four faculties which offer courses at both undergraduate and master’s level namely in the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, Faculty of Environmental Studies and Faculty of Computing and Information Sciences; and has enrolled more than 30.000 national and international students since its creation. Around 25.000 of those students have obtained their degrees during the 16 graduations ceremonies held by UNILAK since 2009 to this time. From 2019, UNILAK started welcoming a big number of international students from various countries of Africa. Today, more than 250 students from 18 countries of Africa have enrolled with UNILAK.

This July 21st, 2022; the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali saw its 16th academic graduation ceremony where 1012 graduates were decorated. Among those graduates 889 got their bachelor’s degrees while 123 got their master’s degrees. 80% of all the graduates were females. The short course of CISCO also saw its 17 finalists who got their certificates of completion. In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAK, Professor Jean NGAMIJE congratulated the graduates for their well deserved achievements and encouraged them to be innovative and make impact in the society. The graduates have completed their master’s and undergraduate levels in the faculties of Economic Sciences and Management, Law, Environmental studies, Computing and Information Sciences. The ceremony brought together all the graduates from the UNILAK campuses of Kigali, Nyanza and Rwamagana.