Paula Ingabire
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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 18 October 2018. She is known for leading Rwanda's digital transformation agenda, for her work on broadband, artificial intelligence and innovation policy, and for her role in creating 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. She began her career at the Rwanda Information Society Authority and later became Head of the ICT Business Development Department at the Rwanda Development Board, where she led national ICT programmes including eGovernment and cyber security. She coordinated the Kigali Innovation City project, a flagship programme designed to nurture a Pan-African innovation ecosystem, and coordinated the creation of Smart Africa, an initiative that uses broadband infrastructure to drive Africa's socio-economic growth.
She took over as minister on 22 October 2018, succeeding Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa. She has since hosted MWC Kigali and the Internet Governance Forum in Rwanda and is an advocate for blockchain and emerging technologies. She has spoken at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference about the principles that guide Rwanda's progress, including thinking big, staying together, and accountability. She sits on the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum and is a commissioner of the Broadband Commission and a member of the Africa Europe Foundation's High-Level Group of Personalities. She has also been involved in Girls in ICT Rwanda and has said that women must be included in technology advancements, with access to a telephone as a first step.
Quotes
[edit]- "Many Africans live in areas with coverage but are not accessing the internet."
- On why usage, and not coverage, is the bigger challenge for digital inclusion in Africa. Rwanda's Digital Blueprint: Minister Paula Ingabire on Driving Inclusive, Homegrown Technology Solutions Across Africa TechAfrica News (November 25, 2025)
- "Thinking big, staying together; accountability."
- On the values that have guided Rwanda's progress. Policy statement of Rwanda ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (October 2022)
- "...a season premiere..."
- Describing Rwanda's innovation journey at the Hanga PitchFest. ICT minister praises rising wave of young Rwandan innovators The New Times (November 15, 2025)
- We Need a Strong Internet in Our Daily Life.
- Speech at opening of Internet Governance Forum (IGF) the 2022 Rwanda KT Press (November 16, 2022)
- The efficient measures are needed to address internet usage gap in Africa.
- Paula Ingabire hosting of the MWC 2022 The NewTimes (October 20, 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.
- Ingabire said on Catalyst for innovation The New Times (December 05, 2022)
- 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.
- 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.
ITU world Telecommunication Development Conference, ITU (6 June 2022)
- 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. https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/11805/news/technology/ai-has-potential-to-create-jobs-with-higher-economic-value-says-ict-minister (24th October 2023)
- 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. This initiative will enable us to host critical data for development however data protection will be very important especially with the new law on personal data protection
- https://www.ktpress.rw/2021/11/rwanda-launches-cost-effective-geographical-data-platform/ KT Press November 17, 2021
- Commenting on the official launch, H.E. Paula Ingabire says “CcHUB’s expansion into Kigali, marked with the launch of the Design Lab today, is an exciting landmark for Rwanda’s burgeoning tech community. Rwanda is keen on collaborating with world-class partners to establish ourselves as a leading destination that nurtures innovation-driven enterprises.”
- https://www.minict.gov.rw/news-detail/minister-paula-ingabire-officially-launched-cchub-design-lab MINICT (14 February 2019).
- Rwanda aims to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, agriculture, and public services, Minister of ICT and Innovation.
- Paris: ICT minister on how Rwanda uses AI in healthcare, agriculture The New Times (February 11, 2025)
- 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.
- Rwanda welcomes world digital leaders to WTDC in Kigali. ITU (October 8, 2026).
- 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 (October 8, 2026).
- 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.
- Rwanda welcomes world digital leaders to WTDC in Kigali. ITU (October 8, 2026).
- Hanga Pitchfest 2022: The Best Innovator Takes $ 50,000 Home. KtPPress (October 8, 2026).
- Rwanda welcomes world digital leaders to WTDC in Kigali. ITU (October 8, 2026).
- 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 Time (October 8, 2026).
- 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. KtPPress (October 8, 2026).
- 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 (February 11, 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.
- 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.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- The technological advancements over the last few years have been quite impressive, and that’s really opened my eyes to the importance of building strong teams and systems.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- The most important thing is to find the right partnerships, and work together in finding solutions to these challenges.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- 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.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- It’s important to us that the tools being developed in and for Rwanda must be designed by diverse teams to ensure that the solutions are a good fit for all target groups.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- Every company hopes that each individual can become a client.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- You cannot assume that the challenges are the same across the population.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- Women typically struggle to balance their careers and families, leading to a lot of them giving up their professional lives to take care of their families.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- 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 26, 2023)
- We need to start with the basics in making sure that everyone can access and benefit from these exciting promises that come with technology, but we also need to do this in a safe manner.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- So much is happening at once, and there’s a tendency to ‘float’ if you don’t reflect on your learnings; the ability to be able to transfer lessons to your next opportunity is key.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- Claiming your place is about being open to change and providing people with options for solving problems.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- If we want girls and Women to build unicorns, they have to be able to build products that are global in nature.
- How to Close the Digital Gender Gap: A Conversation with Paula Ingabire ALX (March 26, 2023)
- 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 26, 2023)
- 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
- Minister Ingabire urges leaders to help bridge gaps in AI access THE NEW TIMES (22, January 2025)
- AI can help transform the East African nation’s economy. By her department’s calculations, AI could contribute “at least 6%” to Rwanda’s GDP, Ingabire said at the World Economic Forum in January
- Introducing the 2025 TIME100 Next Time (27 August 2025 )
- This is not something we’re building just for the government,It’s for the private sector, academia, and entrepreneurs who can turn skills into thriving businesses.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, it’s not just about defence. We are creating jobs, we are creating services, we are creating startups.
- Rwanda’s CyberHub marks new chapter in digital security, skills developmentTHE NEW TIMES (02, OCTOBER 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.
- Why East Africa must own its AI future, not import it. newtimes.co.rw (September 19, 2026)
- AI sovereignty means the capacity of East African nations, individually and collectively to define how AI is developed, deployed, And governed within our borders.
- Why East Africa must own its AI future, not import it. newtmes.co.rw (September 19, 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.”
- “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.”
- "Connecting schools to the internet is not just about bringing technology to classrooms; it is about expanding opportunities and laying the foundation for a digital workforce that can power Rwanda's future."
- "Rwanda Giga initiative connects over 500 schools to internet", The New Times (September 2023)
- "Innovation flourishes best in environments where policy acts as an accelerator rather than a barrier. Our goal is to make Rwanda a living laboratory for testing and scaling emerging technologies."
- "Rwanda paves way for tech startups with sandbox regulations", KT Press (May 2021)
- "The future of financial inclusion lies in interoperability. When payment platforms seamlessly connect, small businesses and rural citizens benefit the most from the digital economy."
- "ICT Minister Ingabire on interoperable digital payments", The New Times (December 2020)
- "Building local tech capacity requires long-term investment in STEM education, especially for young girls who must see themselves as future creators and leaders in technology."
- "Empowering Rwandan Women in STEM", UN Women (February 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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The successful 5G delivery stratospheric test we conducted is promising. It represents a significant step towards narrowing the digital divide and enhancing digital inclusion with innovative solutions.”
- “It underscores our dedication to establish Rwanda as a premier global destination for pioneering and visionary individuals from across the globe, where they can harness our supportive policies and regulatory flexibility to explore cutting-edge innovations that address development challenges.”
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- “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.”
- 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.
- We are also willing to co-create policy and regulations with all concerned parties.
- 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.
- “The Rwanda is committed to the development of the digital economy and facilitates access by Rwandan citizens to digital technology.”
- "Rwanda: Building a knowledge-based and digital economy" mag.com (July 9, 2019)
- “The objective is to have an inclusive programme promoting the emergence, within the economy, of a real digital capacity.”
- "Rwanda: Building a knowledge-based and digital economy" mag.com (July 9, 2019)
- “Moving forward we need even greater mobilization of all levels of government and private sector organizations.”
- Minister Ingabire, amongst board members of WEF’s EDISON Alliance to tackle the digital divide. minict.gov.rw (January 28,2021)
- “Develop impactful solutions that will ensure equitable and affordable access to broadband connectivity.”
- Minister Ingabire, amongst board members of WEF’s EDISON Alliance to tackle the digital divide. minict.gov.rw (January 28,2021)
- “Africa is now at a crucial moment in its development.”
- https://www.elearning-africa.com/main/resources/press_releases/ELA.php? africa.com (13.04.2022)
- “The creation of ACFTA, the African single market, is an unprecedented opportunity to transform the fortunes of our continent and its people.”
- https://www.elearning-africa.com/main/resources/press_releases/ELA.php? africa.com (13.04.2022)
- “For Rwanda, it’s been a privilege to host the very first WTDC in Africa.”
- What it takes to close the digital gap: Q&A with WTDC Chair itu.int (19 Jul 2022)
- “We’re going to be part and parcel of shaping the digital development agenda over the next four years.”
- What it takes to close the digital gap: Q&A with WTDC Chair itu.int (19 Jul 2022)
- “We see ourselves as a proof-of-concept destination for innovative companies and start-ups to launch, test, and scale.”
- What it takes to close the digital gap: Q&A with WTDC Chair itu.int (19 Jul 2022)
- “I wouldn’t say I knew that I would end up in tech, but I was quite comfortable with the sciences.”
- https://www.alxafrica.com/how-to-close-the-digital-gender-gap-paula-ingabire/? alxafrica.com (06 Mar 2023)
- “I’m quite excited about the potential for growth that technology offers us.”
- https://www.alxafrica.com/how-to-close-the-digital-gender-gap-paula-ingabire/? alxafrica.com (06 Mar 2023)
- “It’s truly been an exciting journey so far, and I have no regrets.”
- https://www.alxafrica.com/how-to-close-the-digital-gender-gap-paula-ingabire/? alxafrica.com (06 Mar 2023)
- “Technology plays a critical role in transforming lives.”
- https://www.alxafrica.com/how-to-close-the-digital-gender-gap-paula-ingabire/? alxafrica.com (06 Mar 2023)
- “We’re constantly thinking of ways to improve.”
- https://www.alxafrica.com/how-to-close-the-digital-gender-gap-paula-ingabire/? alxafrica.com (06 Mar 2023)
- “Technology is becoming the default way of solving problems.”
- https://www.alxafrica.com/how-to-close-the-digital-gender-gap-paula-ingabire/? alxafrica.com (06 Mar 2023)
- “There’s really immense opportunities on what AI can do to really help a country like Rwanda to leapfrog its development stages.”
- Special Meeting 2024: AI, Productivity, Work: Can We Have it All? weforum.org (April28,2024)
- AI can help transform the workforce.”
- Special Meeting 2024: AI, Productivity, Work: Can We Have it All? weforum.org (April28,2024)
- Technology is an enabler for almost every sector and aspect of society.”
- Third BAL Innovation Summit Highlights The Role of Technology, Business in African Sports taarifa.rw (June 1, 2024)
- “Sports is one area that’s not left behind.”
- Third BAL Innovation Summit Highlights The Role of Technology, Business in African Sports taarifa.rw (June 1, 2024)
- “To start, for Rwanda, we are a proof-of-concept hub.”
- “Who would know our problems better than us?”
- “It’s not just implementing technology for the sake of technology.”
- “It has to be coming to solve a problem.”
- “The opportunity that is there for us as African countries is how we turn this youth bulge into a productivity bulge.”
- “We can build homegrown startups of the continent.”
- “The problems we face as a continent deserve solutions that are developed by our own people.”
- “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.”
