Founded in 1881, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is the world's first collegiate business school. Renowned for its rigorous curriculum, world-class faculty, and focus on practical applications, Wharton is a global leader in business education, excelling in fields such as finance, analytics, and innovation.
Led by Professor Katherine Klein and Eric Kacou, the group is in Kigali for the 11th Wharton Global Modular Course on Rwanda, titled 'Conflict, Leadership, and Change: Lessons from Rwanda.' The course examines the transformative policies, governance, and leadership practices that have propelled Rwanda's remarkable progress since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
As part of their visit, the students met with President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, January 15, 2024, for discussions on Rwanda's development trajectory and leadership principles.
President Kagame, who led the Rwandan Patriot Front (RPF) to end the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, is widely credited with spearheading Rwanda's recovery and transformation. Under his leadership, the country has achieved notable economic growth, political stability, and social development milestones.
Since 2000, Rwanda has maintained an annual GDP growth rate of approximately 7-8%, making it one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. Kagame's policies emphasize national reconciliation, poverty reduction, improved healthcare and education, and gender equality.
The country's achievements include a significant decline in poverty rates, which fell from 60.4% in 2000 to 38.2% in 2017, while extreme poverty dropped from 40% to 16% over the same period.
Universal health insurance coverage expanded dramatically from 43.3% in 2005 to 97.3% in 2022, greatly enhancing healthcare access. Additionally, access to electricity grew from 4.3% in 2005 to 61% in 2022, while the proportion of households using improved sanitation facilities increased from 58.5% in 2005 to 72% in 2022.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
