The President of Rwanda in East Africa, Paul Kagame has hailed 26 students from Nigeria who were among the graduates from the African Leadership University (ALU).
The 26 students were among 431 students from 30 African countries – the largest graduating cohort, who were conferred Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in Entrepreneurship, Global Challenges, and International Business and Trade, and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in Computer Science.
The 2021 undergraduate class also included a cohort of students enrolled on the ALU-Patoranking Scholarship Program. Sponsored by award-winning Nigerian musician Patoranking, the scholarship aims to support equitable access to education for young African changemakers.
At a ceremony held in Kigali, Rwanda. The Hon. Minister of Education for Rwanda, Dr Gaspard Twagirayezu, and the Mayor of Kigali City, Samuel Dusengiyumva, were among the African leaders celebrating the graduates’ achievements.
“This one-of-a-kind institution is a reminder to all of us that, in Africa, we have the means to solve our problems. The uncomfortable truth is that we rely too much on others to tell us what to do and, more often than not, we pay a hefty price as a consequence. We need to take responsibility for what belongs to us and have a sense of identity in doing so. It all begins with how we teach our children and shape their mindsets and sense of ownership for Africa’s future,” the President said.
He noted that ALU is a trailblazer because it has invested in building a new generation of critical thinkers and innovators here on our continent.
During the ceremony, President Kagame was awarded the ALU Honorary Certificate of Merit for Exemplary Entrepreneurial Leadership, in recognition of his contribution to Rwanda’s economic and social development, and his enduring support of ALU.
ALU, which has a state-of-the-art campus in Kigali and a college in Pamplemousses, Mauritius, is training Africa’s leaders and visionaries of tomorrow through a mix of mission-led study and work experience. It aims to develop 3 million ethical and entrepreneurial African leaders by 2035.