Swaniker shared these insights on The Long Form podcast, hosted by Sanny Ntayombya. His admiration began in 2014 during a visit to Kigali for a Nigerian friend's wedding. Stunned by the city's reliable electricity and infrastructureâ€"despite Rwanda's limited resources compared to Ghanaâ€"he admitted, 'I was almost embarrassed to be a Ghanaian.'
This prompted him to host the African Leadership Network conference in Rwanda, where Kagame's keynote aligned with Swaniker's belief that 'Africa needs to be excellent.' 'He has very high standards,' Swaniker said, marking the start of a partnership that made Rwanda his 'second home.'
Kagame's decisive action cemented Swaniker's respect. When Swaniker requested land for ALU's campus, Kagame delivered swiftly.
'This is on a Saturday,' Swaniker recalled. 'He said, 'How many hectares?' I said, 'I need 50 hectares.' He said, 'Okay, no, we'll give you 25.''
Doubting, Swaniker thought, 'He's just an African politician making empty promises.' Yet, days later, a text arrived: 'Congratulations. 20 acres of land have been allocated to ALU.'
Within a month, Swaniker held the title deeds. 'Which president in the world moves that fast?' he marveled. Today, ALU educates 3,000 students and earns global acclaim, thanks to Kagame's support.
Swaniker credits Kagame's 'very clear vision' for Rwanda's transformation. 'There's no other leader in the world who has achieved that kind of rapid transformation in such a short period of time starting from such a terrible position,' he said, referencing the genocide that took lives of over a million people.
According to Swaniker, Kagame's leadership enabled innovations like Zipline's drone deliveries and ALU's three-month accreditation, bypassing bureaucracy that stalls progress elsewhere.
In a continent plagued by leadership failures, Swaniker sees Kagame as an exception.
'I believe in doing hard things and President Kagame is a great example of someone who does hard things. And more importantly who just doesn't talk he actually just delivers things right and so that's why I like to do things in Rwanda,' he noted.
He further described him as a 'very effective leader' who serves his people, fostering an environment where innovators thrive.
Swaniker's praise challenges African leaders to emulate Kagame's blend of vision and action, offering hope that Rwanda's model can inspire a broader renaissance across the continent.
Théophile Niyitegeka
