NAME: Leonia Nkuruh
COUNTRY: Rwanda
BUSINESS: Premier Tiles (Construction Material Sales)

Leonia, 49 years old, owns Premier Tiles, which specializes in the sales of construction materials.

After returning to Rwanda seven years ago from exile in Uganda, Leonia decided that instead of looking for a job, she wanted to start her own business. With her husband’s full support, they took what little savings they had to invest into a construction materials business.

Leonia says that growing up as a refugee taught her that she had to work for everything. This life lesson helped her achieve her biggest dream – earning a college degree.

Upon some market research, Leonia determined this was a good business to be in, since so many construction projects were now taking place after the war.

Premier Tiles currently has four employees and focuses primarily on the distribution of cement and trading in tiles and paint. The tiles are imported from India, Egypt and China.

Most clients are either construction companies or individual developers.

Over the next five years, Leonia hopes to increase her sales revenue by 20% annually, expand her client base by at least 5 individual companies and about 80 individuals, and to diversify business content by carrying out value addition activities, such as the building of interlocks, cement blocks and pavements.

By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Leonia hopes to learn more about financial management, international procurement, marketing and the development of business plans.

Leonia is proud to be a Rwandan citizen, and she is proud to help rebuild and restore her country. As a mother, she is exceptionally proud that her children will have a country to call their own.