Nyamata, 26 March 2019: On the sidelines of the 7th Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali from 25-26 March, 2019, the President of the Republic of Togo, H.E Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, visited an off-grid solution project in Bugesera District, Eastern Province. The project dubbed “Tomorrow’s Rural Home” signifies a picture and vision for rural homes country wide by 2024.

President Gnassingbé was accompanied by Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Claver Gatete and the Mayor of Bugesera District, Richard Mutabazi. The officials visited the house that captures the aspirations of a rural family that wants affordable utilities to drastically improve their quality of life. The project powered by BBOXX is a solar system which demonstrate potentials to help the country meet its ambitious target of achieving universal access by the year 2024.

This initiative is a “solid solution” to off-grid areas. “Said the President”. He applauded the new venture using technology to distribute electricity, gas and other life-changing services to the most remote areas in Rwanda. He applauded the Government of Rwanda’s policy of promoting the private sector participation in the introduction of new innovative marketing and financing models that connects rural communities easily.

The standalone solar home system has other products and services such as micro businesses, affordable internet service, LPG gas stove, rainwater harvesting and water purifiers that help the beneficiaries have water to use at home and to irrigate their gardens.

Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Claver Gatete commended BBOXX and other partners in private sector for their vision behind Tomorrow’s Rural Home model saying it would be duplicated in rural parts, where on-grid electricity is yet to be rolled out. This model is not only integrated, smart, cheaper and unique in nature, but also environmental friendly, encouraging all rural communities to use it.

According to Justus Mucyo, the BBOXX Rwanda Managing Director, the solutions will be rolled out in different parts of the country as part of efforts to make BBOXX a next generation utility. “We are really proud to be benefiting from the Global Innovation Centre in Kigali. It allows us to be very fast in interacting with these technologies and accelerating the push to be a reliable and trustworthy next generation utility,” Mucyo said.

“We have accessed and gone to the doorsteps of most underserved customers in rural areas.The reality is that those rural customers want a lifestyle that all of us in urban areas have.

“To do that we have to be innovative and use technology to bring services and solutions to them,” Mucyo said, adding that BBOXX is working with different partners to make this a reality. BBOXX has connected over 75,000 customers to off-grid electricity.