His Excellency Paul Kagame, Rwanda President, was appointed Chairman of the African Union during a summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 28, 2018.
His continuous work and commitment to make a better life for the people who survived the genocide in Rwanda has proven he was a true leader and the right person to endorse the new role.
Also known as "the Digital President", Kagame is an ardent advocate for greater digital adoption and innovation in Africa, and his leadership has so far delivered sustainable progress in health, education, economic growth, technology, agriculture and manufacturing.
In his acceptance speech, Kagame said that African nations "need to create a single continental market, integrate their infrastructure and revitalize their economies through technology." "By committing to break down these barriers, we will send a tremendous signal in Africa and beyond that it is no longer business as usual. Our people deserve a brighter future. Their sacrifice and hard work should be rewarded by better lives for their families and communities," he said.
Rwanda, along with other countries, has adopted the One Laptop Per Child school program, already recognized as a successful initiative for the education system. This will allow the next generation of young professionals to play a full role in the future of the country. "However, too many Africans come of age in the same conditions as their parents and grandparents and sometimes the hardships endured are even worse, our job is to make sure that every generation in Africa enjoys a better life than the previous one," Kagame said.
Watch and listen to Kagame's acceptance speech:
