Kigali, July 10, 2019:

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente Edouard, on behalf of His Excellency, Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, officiated the opening ceremony of the 4^th Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting which is taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre from 09^th to 10^th July 2019.

The meeting brought together different Africa50 shareholders and Board members including Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Africa50 Chairman and President of AfDB and Mr. Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50.

The Prime Minister recalled the importance of increasing opportunities in technology advancements in all sectors of Africa’s economies, in this regard, he insisted on the need to invest across multiple dimensions from connectivity in rural and urban areas to digital literacy to increase adoption, and to prepare young people to be successful in a digital world.

The Premier highlighted that Rwanda started with laying the foundations by investing in infrastructure that led to 95% of the country fiber network coverage. He said that this played a considerable role in improving service delivery through online government services. He also noted that Rwanda is looking at universal digital literacy of its young people by 2024 as well as capitalizing on innovation and technology to develop the economy and reduce poverty. 

The Prime Minister called for collaboration and partnership between governments, private sector and other partners to make investments successful. He further commended Africa50 for stepping in to partner with the Government of Rwanda in developing Kigali Innovation City, a flagship project to accelerate Rwanda’s innovation ecosystem.

The Premier also reiterated the importance of investing in technology by supporting inclusive solutions that improve the lives of people and lifting them all out of poverty.

He concluded his remarks by encouraging participants to continue working together as partners to find ways to transform Africa through the use of technology as a platform to accelerate the creation of value for citizens and society.

Click here read the full speech of the Prime Minister.