In an exclusive interview on the Rundown podcast, Ingabire outlined Rwanda's ambitious agenda and the broader opportunities AI presents for the continent.
'What I'm more excited about is the quality of conversations we've had, the engagements, the optimism. We truly can shape what the future of AI looks like for Africa,' Ingabire said.
One of the standout moments for her was seeing young innovators, especially in the creative industry, harnessing AI in unexpected ways.
'It's amazing to see them using AI for video development and digital creativity. You'd think most would focus on agriculture or healthcare, but these young people are pushing boundaries in culture and media,' she noted.
According to her, Rwanda's leadership on AI stems from deliberate planning and a collaborative spirit. 'We've done our homework. We understand the value of AI, but we also know we can't do it alone. Collaboration is essential, between policymakers, industry players, and startups,' she explained.
That collaboration extends across borders, with initiatives like the creation of a 3,400-hour Kinyarwanda dataset now scaled to 16 African languages across 14 countries.
This effort, driven by the Rwanda center for the fourth industrial revolution, is building foundational infrastructure that enables AI to reflect Africa's linguistic and cultural diversity.
With a median age of 19 across Africa, talent is both abundant and untapped. Rwanda has partnered with institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences to train engineers in AI and machine learning.
More uniquely, the country's Coding Academy is preparing gifted 13-year-olds in a three-year intensive program portraying skilling the youth is another top priority.
But as Rwanda builds talent, it's also focused on creating jobs and markets for them. 'We can't just build talent without a market to absorb them,' she said. 'Money follows talent. Investors will come when they see quality solutions,' she said.
The Minister was clear-eyed about challenges too, particularly infrastructure and regulation. Yet she believes the continent holds natural advantages. 'Skills are our low-hanging fruit. We're youthful, open to innovation, and we have real problems AI can help solve.'
Rwanda's AI strategy is deeply rooted in values. 'Transparency, privacy, data reliability, and eliminating bias are essential. The country began its AI journey by enacting a data protection and privacy law, long before launching a national AI strategy,' she emphasized.
Inclusion, especially gender inclusion, remains central as women are encouraged not just on using AI but building and leading in AI by designing solutions that benefit them too.
Despite Rwanda's relatively small market size, the country's speed and efficiency make it a proving ground for foreign partners. 'People come here doubting the market size, but once they see how fast things move, they start betting on us. And we bet on them too,' she revealed.
Rwanda is also using AI to bridge urban-rural divides. From developing AI chatbots to assist community health workers to building solutions for underserved areas, inclusion is at the heart of every rollout.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/africa-s-ai-awakening-and-rwanda-s-vision-for-an-inclusive-future
