Paula Ingabire

thumb|Paula Ingabire in 2018 Paula Ingabire (born 24 January 1983) is a Rwandan technology professional and politician who has served as Minister of ICT and Innovation in the Cabinet of Rwanda since October 2018, succeeding Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa. She is known for leading Rwanda's digital transformation agenda, for her work on broadband, artificial intelligence and innovation policy, and for coordinating the creation of the Smart Africa initiative. Ingabire holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and information technology from the former Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, now part of the University of Rwanda, and a degree in system design and management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management. Before entering government she led the ICT Business Development Department at the Rwanda Development Board, where she directed national programmes in eGovernment and cyber security and coordinated the Kigali Innovation City project. As minister she has hosted MWC Kigali, the Internet Governance Forum (2022) and the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference (2022) in Rwanda. She sits on the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum and is a founding board member of its EDISON Alliance, a commissioner of the Broadband Commission, and a member of the Africa Europe Foundation's High-Level Group of Personalities. Quotes On digital inclusion and connectivity Many Africans live in areas with coverage but are not accessing the internet. On why usage, not coverage, is the bigger challenge, "Rwanda's Digital Blueprint: Minister Paula Ingabire on Driving Inclusive, Homegrown Technology Solutions Across Africa", TechAfrica News, 25 November 2025 Such collaborations are needed more than ever to accelerate connectivity rollout and easy, affordable access to learning opportunities for our children. On Rwanda leading the Giga school-connectivity initiative in Africa, Daniel Sabiiti, "Rwanda to Lead Africa's School Internet Connectivity", KT Press (June 2020) We now have even greater mobilization needed... (Replace with the full text of the EDISON Alliance quote below; see "Moving forward".) Moving forward we need even greater mobilization of all levels of government and private sector organizations. On the digital divide, "Minister Ingabire, amongst board members of WEF's EDISON Alliance to tackle the digital divide", MINICT, 28 January 2021 In terms of challenges, you have different maturity levels in the digital landscape. Finding a one-size-fits-all set of strategies that will close the gap in different parts of the world may be quite a challenge. Even as we deploy resources and build the right partnerships to close the digital divide, figuring out how we measure that [progress] is still a sticky point, as is aligning on a set of criteria for how we measure readiness, maturity, and growth. "What it takes to close the digital gap: Q&A with WTDC Chair", ITU, July 2022 Everyone deserves to access an opportunity that comes with the digital world, and it's our duty to ensure that connectivity becomes universal, affordable, and accessible. At the opening of the Internet Governance Forum, "We Need a Strong Internet in Our Daily Life – Minister Ingabire", KT Press, 16 November 2022 We are certain that improving broadband services in Rwanda will be a critical enabler of the social-economic development we seek, and that this progressive policy will directly contribute to the achievement of our national strategic goals. "Rwanda broadband policy will harness cutting-edge technology", The New Times, 5 December 2022 ...so that we are able to dream together, co-design and implement impactful programmes, like this week's launch of high-speed satellite connectivity for schools in Rwanda. "Govt launches new program to connect all schools to internet by 2024", The New Times, 24 March 2023 We look forward to engaging in very meaningful conversations that are not only going to strengthen the India-Africa collaboration but most importantly to forge new and stronger partnerships between our communities. "Minister Ingabire says India-Africa ICT Expo is a win-win opportunity", MINICT (undated) We need to move beyond working in isolation and start building interoperable systems that allow our countries and citizens to connect, transact and innovate across borders. "Paula Ingabire calls for cross-border digital systems to accelerate Africa's tech transformation", Taarifa, 21 September 2026 On artificial intelligence One of the benefits that we have is that we don't have legacy infrastructure and systems. And so, if we're able to be very laser focussed on how we deploy AI solutions for the societal problems we're trying to solve for, then one, we gain the benefits, but also we're able to leapfrog when it comes to technological development. "Special Meeting 2024: AI, Productivity, Work: Can We Have It All?", World Economic Forum (2024) When you look at our national AI policy, you realise that 70 per cent of the policy is focused on skills. That was very intentional because we knew that, without the right skills, we would never be able to support the industry and its associated changes. "AI has potential to create jobs with higher economic value, says ICT minister", The New Times, 24 October 2023 To achieve this vision, the country has adopted an ambitious plan to leverage the power of AI to drive economic growth, enhance public service delivery and foster inclusive and sustainable development. "Inside Rwanda's priority areas as new AI policy takes shape", The New Times (undated) We want to be able to lead the way. We can't just put on a hat of regulations and policymaking. We also want to be able to experiment with the potential of AI across different fields of the public sector. "Davos: Minister Ingabire urges leaders to help bridge gaps in AI access", The New Times, 22 January 2025 We will not be able to build homegrown solutions that respond to local challenges if we don't have a talented AI ecosystem, people that understand how to build these models, people that are able to leverage these tools and are out there to create the solutions. "Paris: ICT minister on how Rwanda uses AI in healthcare, agriculture", The New Times, 11 February 2025 We're excited about this partnership with the Gates Foundation around the AI Scaling Hub, designed to be a platform where we can scale AI solutions — starting with three sectors: health care, agriculture, and education. "Rwanda ICT And Innovation Minister Paula Ingabire Received $7.5M From Gates Foundation To Build Out AI Scaling Hub", AFROTECH, 29 August 2025 The opportunity that is there for us as African countries is how we turn this youth bulge into a productivity bulge. Building the pathway to digital sovereignty must start with the conviction that the problems we face as a continent deserve solutions that are developed by our own people. "Africa's digital sovereignty hinges on homegrown talent, Rwanda ICT minister says", Sputnik Africa, 28 November 2025 The greatest risk that East Africa faces is that we will remain consumers of AI systems built elsewhere, trained on data that does not reflect our own realities, and optimised for problems that are not ours. AI sovereignty means the capacity of East African nations, individually and collectively to define how AI is developed, deployed, and governed within our borders. Speaking at the 4th East African Community Science, Technology and Innovation Conference, Charles Nyandwi, "Why East Africa must own its AI future, not import it", The New Times, 30 March 2026 Artificial intelligence is now recognised as a critical technology that will significantly impact societies. For that, all countries must start to equip themselves with the right strategies to enable them to harness the potential of AI, while at the same time addressing the potential risks. On the launch of StrategusAI, "Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel launch StrategusAI", The Commonwealth (undated) On innovation and Rwanda as a testing ground Rwanda is keen on collaborating with world-class partners to establish ourselves as a leading destination that nurtures innovation-driven enterprises. On the launch of the CcHUB Design Lab in Kigali, "Minister Paula Ingabire officially launched CcHUB Design Lab", MINICT, 14 February 2019 There is lack of data in the country which makes it hard to have impactful decision making. We need to open up this to spur innovation towards development through impactful solutions and innovation. "Rwanda launches cost-effective geographical data platform", KT Press, 17 November 2021 We see ourselves as a proof-of-concept destination for innovative companies and start-ups to launch, test, and scale. "Rwanda is tackling digital development challenges – and succeeding", World Economic Forum, July 2022 It's not just implementing technology for the sake of technology. It has to be coming to solve a problem. At MWC Kigali 2025, MWC Kigali 2025 post, LinkedIn (2025) When I think about technology, and for us in Rwanda, technology is an enabler for almost every sector and aspect of society. Sports is one area that's not left behind. At the third BAL Innovation Summit, "Third BAL Innovation Summit Highlights The Role of Technology, Business in African Sports", Taarifa, 1 June 2024 On cybersecurity It is very important for us to learn from each other's best practices, to understand which threats are lurking, but also to understand how we can join expertise, resources and efforts to really combat the cybersecurity threats. "World must band together to battle scourge of cyber threats", MINICT (undated) ...Our metrics will not be how many people we train. Our metrics will be how the industry is growing, and how resilient our systems are... On the CyberHub, "Rwanda's CyberHub marks new chapter in digital security, skills development", The New Times, 2 October 2025 On women, girls and technology The major plan is to have coding taught as a lesson so that children can start at an early age to pick interest in Science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which will enable them to be competitive in the future job market. "Rwanda To Integrate Coding Into School Curriculum", KT Press (December 2019) We urge parents, mainly the women, to take our young girls to school and encourage them to be involved in STEM subjects because they are also capable of doing it. "Women's Day: Parents urged to inspire girls in STEM", The New Times (undated) We're seeing a lot of that happening in the private sector as well: a deliberate focus on empowering young girls to take up STEM subjects. Over the next few years, we'll start to see a critical mass of young women leaders at the helm of this transformational work – not just in Rwanda, but across the continent. "Rwanda welcomes world digital leaders to WTDC in Kigali", ITU News, No. 3 (2022) Every one of you has the possibility and potential to succeed to grow beyond what anyone has ever imagined. It all starts with faith – believing in the opportunity and the right to empower women and young people. "Hanga Pitchfest 2022: The Best Innovator Takes $50,000 Home", KT Press (December 2022) A digital economy without the full participation of women cannot scale to reach its full potential. We need to keep empowering women in the technology sector and ensure that they have equal access to education, training, employment opportunities, digital financial services and access to information. "Rwanda celebrates International Women's Day", MIGEPROF (undated) If we are really going to be as inclusive as we say we want to be with our strategies and policies, and the way we implement them, then we must make sure that our programmes are intentionally and deliberately designed that way. If we want girls and Women to build unicorns, they have to be able to build products that are global in nature. To all the young girls out there, having role models and access to opportunities is great, but will make no difference if you don't believe in yourself. "How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire", ALX (March 2023) On her career I wouldn't say I knew that I would end up in tech, but I was quite comfortable with the sciences. I think what I enjoy the most about tech is the cross-cutting, enabling role that it plays. In the early days, technology was viewed in isolation, as a standalone field. Thinking about my professional career, I would say I'm lucky to have identified people who not only inspired me, but were willing to tell me the truth, and nudge me in the right direction. "How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire", ALX (March 2023) External links Category:Women from Rwanda Category:Government ministers of Rwanda Category:1983 births Category:Living people