He is distinguished in a gray suit, blue tie, and studious glasses, with a tall, lean frame and a slight accent. He is introduced by Carnegie Mellon University president, Dr. Jared Cohen. Dr. Cohen speaks of the genocide Rwanda encountered seventeen years ago and points out how quickly the nation has recovered from the tragedies of its past. Rwanda was named a top business reformer in 2010 and its people are living longer. Education standards have risen and there is more ease in the business world. Much of this reform is thanks to Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s president, who came to speak at Carnegie Mellon University on September 16th, 2011.
Carnegie Mellon is planning on opening a campus in Rwanda as well as a research center: the Mobility Research Center. The goals of the campus and center are to introduce more information and communication technologies to the nation as well as give young Rwandans the opportunity to access education. Kagame hopes the program will help prepare a generation of tech-savvy Africans.
Despite the protests to Kagame’s presence at Carnegie Mellon, he spoke in a dignified manner and eloquently expressed his thoughts on the partnership between Rwanda and Carnegie Mellon. He believes his country is approaching a changing tide, and although the world is socioeconomically imbalanced, partnerships based on mutual respect can work to achieve everyone’s aspiration. He acknowledged that wealthy nations are quick to give aid to underdeveloped nations. But, this aid is often misused and does not benefit in the long run. Kagame instead says that sustained development will arise when nations take charge of their own development and work on their partnerships with the developed world.
President Kagame’s national development agenda is focused on the people, which is why he so strongly believes in the use of technology to transform Rwanda. The Carnegie Mellon campus in Rwanda will offer the opportunity to develop skills for innovation, enrich student lives, and provide well-trained professionals for the developing world. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the cooperation between the government of Rwanda and the private sector of Carnegie Mellon. He is thrilled to be on this journey.
Following Kagame’s speech, he answered questions from local students who attended his presentation. He told the audience more about himself – his life as a refugee in Uganda, where he spent thirty years in exile, working to fight for his country before and after the colonial period. When he returned to Rwanda, he continued his struggle to put the pieces of his nation back together and build a new foundation. He commented on the influence of China in Africa. Kagame believes that China is a major world power, with a developing influence and many capabilities with strengths that allow the nation to be a global player. China, according to Kagame, relates to Africa as it does the rest of the world: it provides opportunity for Africa and has used its resources to aid the African economy and ensure its growth.
Kagame then answered more questions about Rwanda’s standing in the world before answering another personal question. He expressed his beliefs about why Rwanda has done so well in comparison to other African nations. He says that the nation sank so low the only place to go was up. And with the focus on doing, trying, striving to do the right, they held themselves accountable for their actions. Rwanda was not a miracle; the nation learned its lesson and built from it. As a leader, he has helped Rwanda change its mindset from the devastated nation it was to the emerging, hopeful nation it is now. He asked his people to keep challenging themselves, keep asking questions and to face their challenges honestly. They understood they needed to change their own lives and that no on else would help to uplift them.
President Kagame was asked what he would do when he retired from politics. He answered, of course, that he would keep an invested interest in his country by living a proactive life. He also hopes to do the things he has not had time to do. Among those are sitting back, resting, farming, reading and writing. Kagame hopes the bond between Carnegie Mellon and Rwanda will continue to grow, working stage by stage to find the areas where they best work together with joint skills to move into a better, united future.