SIXTEEN African Leadership University (ALU) students from Zimbabwe were among the graduates congratulated by Rwanda President Paul Kagame at a ceremony held recently in Kigali.
He described the students as a new generation of critical thinkers and innovators.
Kagame was joined by other African leaders, among them Rwanda's Education minister Gaspard Twagirayezu, and the mayor of Kigali, Samuel Dusengiyumva, in celebrating the graduates’ achievements.
The graduates were among 431 students from 30 African countries – the largest graduating cohort to date. They were conferred Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in Entrepreneurship, Global Challenges, International Business and Trade, and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in Computer Science. The 2021 undergraduate class also included students enrolled in the ALU-Patoranking Scholarship Programme.
Sponsored by award-winning Nigerian musician Patoranking, the scholarship aims to support equitable access to education for young African changemakers.
“This one-of-a-kind institution is a reminder to all of us that, in Africa, we have the means to solve our problems," Kagame said.
"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. ALU is a trailblazer because it has invested in building a new generation of critical thinkers and innovators here on our continent,” he added.
During the ceremony, 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.
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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 three million ethical and entrepreneurial African leaders by 2035.
Rumbidzai Gijima, an ALU Computer Science graduate from Zimbabwe, said: “I am deeply grateful to the African Leadership University for its unwavering support and encouragement as I challenged myself to become the change that I want to see in the world. As I embark on this next chapter in my life, I will continue to treasure the connections cultivated with peers, business leaders, and faculty, along with the knowledge and skills acquired throughout my time at ALU. But above all, this ceremony was a reminder that our generation holds the immense passion, vision, and determination needed to solve Africa’s challenges, and seize its greatest opportunities.”
Veda Sunassee, CEO of ALU, said: “At a time today when headlines are dominated by wars and politics, it is very easy to feel that the future is fraught with division and despair. But we are today surrounded by some of the most brilliant young minds the world has ever seen, ready to embark on a journey not just to succeed in your personal ambitions, but to serve and to bridge divides.”
Speraking at the same event, ALU co-founder Fred Swaniker said, “We realised that you are entering into a world where employers are demanding skills, not content mastery; critical thinking skills, how to lead yourself, how to lead others, how to manage complex tasks and projects, how to communicate for impact, how to think like an entrepreneur, how to analyse data and use it to make decisions. These are the things that matter, not what you studied.”
ALU’s latest Impact Report revealed that more than a quarter of its alumni have started 140 unique ventures, created more than 44 000 jobs, and raised almost US$6 million.
