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ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2024

United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 52,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2024 on 6,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 280+ campuses worldwide (just 5%) were selected to host the 4,000+ Millennium Fellows.

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UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT IRUMVA OPPORTUN, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2024.

University of Rwanda Nyarugenge | Butare, Rwanda | Advancing SDG 2, SDG 12, SDG 9, SDG 13, SDG 6 & UNAI 9

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" I'm passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, from sustainable agriculture to environmental conservation. Being a Millennium Fellow excites me because it offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and amplify our collective impact on global challenges. This fellowship will empower me to further align my ventures with the UNAI principles and SDGs, and contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future. "

Millennium Fellowship Project: YEZA

Yeza is a groundbreaking agri-tech platform aimed at revolutionizing farming for smallholder farmers in Africa. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), computer vision, and geospatial data, Yeza provides farmers with timely, data-driven insights to manage crops more effectively. This powerful combination of technologies addresses significant challenges in agriculture, including pest and disease management, soil health, nutrient optimization, and the overall sustainability of farming practices.
Key Features:
AI-Powered Disease and Pest Detection: Yeza uses computer vision to analyze images of crops, identifying early signs of diseases and pest infestations. The AI provides actionable insights to help prevent crop loss.
Nutrient Management: Yeza uses machine learning to analyze the soil's health and recommend nutrient supplementation, ensuring optimal conditions for crop growth.
Geospatial Data Integration: By incorporating geospatial data, Yeza enables farmers to understand the geographical context of their crops, including soil composition, terrain variations, and environmental conditions. This data helps optimize planting strategies, resource allocation, and crop management, tailored to specific local conditions.
Offline Functionality: The platform works in offline mode, ensuring that farmers in areas with limited internet connectivity can still access vital information and manage their crops effectively.
Data-Driven Insights: Yeza continuously collects and analyzes data from local farming environments, helping farmers make informed decisions about crop management, pest control, and resource usage.
Impact on Farmers: Yeza is designed to empower farmers by giving them access to advanced technology that helps improve crop yields, reduce losses, and enhance sustainability. With its user-friendly interface and robust data analytics, Yeza supports farmers in making better decisions that lead to improved productivity, profitability, and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Long-Term Vision: Yeza’s long-term goal is to expand its reach across Africa, enabling millions of smallholder farmers to gain access to affordable and effective agricultural technology. With the integration of geospatial data, AI, and machine learning, Yeza aims to tackle global challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and economic inequality while promoting sustainable farming practices.
Through this innovative approach, Yeza not only helps farmers overcome immediate agricultural challenges but also contributes to creating a more resilient, data-driven agricultural ecosystem for the future.

About the Millennium Fellow

Irumva Opportun is a dynamic student at the University of Rwanda, Nyarugenge, pursuing a degree in Applied Geology. As a co-founder of multiple innovative ventures, he is at the forefront of technological solutions aimed at sustainability and safety. He is developing YEZA, an AI-powered platform that utilizes computer vision for diagnosing crop diseases, and co-founded MineTech, a venture focused on sensor networking in mines to enhance safety. Additionally, Irumva is dedicated to environmental conservation, conducting research on marine life in the context of climate change, and is a co-founder of ZeroWaste, a company that repurposes mine tailings into glass ceramics.

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