Redefining innovation for young Africans – Lucas Gakire’s story

How timbuktoo UniPod is helping young people to turn their dreams into reality.

April 26, 2024

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." For Lucas Gakire, this adage is more than just words—it's a testament to his resilience and determination.

At only 19 years old, while practicing carpentry as part of his construction course in secondary school, Lucas faced a life-altering accident that cost him three fingers on his left hand.

This was a huge setback for Lucas, which led him to turn to drawing, a passion he always had since childhood. Since he had lost his fingers, he still couldn’t draw easily on paper. So, he transitioned his passion for drawing into a journey of self-taught programming.

Although he had a desire, it wasn’t without challenges. He didn’t have a computer, so he resorted to the use of books. When he was able to borrow a computer from a friend, internet connectivity and hardware limitations presented further hurdles in his pursuit of mastering applications like 3D design, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and visual effects (VFX).

Unfortunately, many young individuals, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, encounter similar barriers, hindering their ability to explore ideas and develop innovative solutions to address their community's challenges.

The Turning Point

For Lucas, a turning point came when he discovered the University Innovation Pod (UniPod), a tech-enabled space established by the timbuktoo initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). timbuktoo is UNDP's bold, innovative, and far-reaching initiative to spark the startup revolution in Africa. In Rwanda, the Unipod is established in collaboration with the University of Rwanda, and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. Despite not being a registered student, Lucas was offered a spot at the Rwanda UniPod, where he found a supportive environment, equipped with the tools and resources he needed to thrive in programming.

"Thanks to UniPod, I got a tech-enabled computer, and other accessories for my programming passion such as virtual reality headsets. I can now run my projects faster and render videos in record time," says Lucas.

Lucas is thriving and his accomplishments include a virtual tour of the UniPod and the production of various animations, showcasing his creativity and technical expertise. Through UniPod, Lucas and fellow innovators are being empowered to tackle Africa's challenges and drive positive change.

"The story of Lucas is heartwarming, and this is exactly what the UniPods are set to achieve. The Unipods are born out of timbuktoo, providing opportunities for young Africans to transform their dreams into reality. We invite more partners to join forces with us and grow Africa’s innovation ecosystem”, noted Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa.

Unipod’s bold ambition is to establish maker spaces across Africa’s leading universities to transform learning, foster an entrepreneurship mindset, and bridge the gap between universities and the innovation ecosystem. So far, UniPods are set up in 13 African countries (Benin, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia), with many more to come.

The UniPods offer students, academic researchers, youth, and local communities access to co-working space and different technology labs which include green tech, agritech and food tech, design, prototyping, electronic, studio, and virtual reality labs.

As Africa advances the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), investing in the potential of young people like Lucas is vital for the continent’s development. By providing the continent’s biggest asset – the youth – with the necessary resources and spaces like UniPods, we can empower many young people to harness their creativity, overcome challenges, and drive positive change in their communities.

Partnerships on timbuktoo will enable more young people facing various challenges like Lucas, to find innovative solutions to achieve their dreams. This way, they can create jobs and contribute to efforts to accelerate sustainable and inclusive development in Africa.

Join us on this largest initiative in the world – timbuktoo – bringing catalytic and commercial capital together to support Africa's innovation ecosystem.