PHOTOS: President Kagame donates Rwf460 million to African women’s leadership fund

This Saturday in Ethiopia, President Kagame pledged $500,000, equivalent to about Rwf466 million, to the newly launched African Women’s Leadership Fund (AWLF).

 President Kagame made the pledge at the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Africa breakfast he attended alongside President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and several Heads of State and Government from Canada, Norway and Former President of Liberia Ellen Sirleaf Johnson

The AWLF, which was launched this Saturday, will prioritize the growth and success of women owned and operated companies in Africa.

In his remarks, President Kagame said that such a fund is a statement of action towards narrowing the gender gap and inequalities that exist.

“Investing in African women fund managers is a smart and innovative approach. Female investors have been found to get higher returns. So we all get better results by investing in women,” President Kagame said.

He added; “ We have had declarations. We have had calls to action. It is important that now we move to real action that gives us results. That may be done at a national level, a regional level, and a global level as well,”

The head of state noted that if leaders move with the same commitment in a coordinated manner of working together, the results will continue to be visible and better.  

While reacting to the development, AU Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat tweeted; “…Scaling up action for the financial inclusion for African Women. It is not a favour, it is not charity, it is justice,”

President Kagame is in Addis Ababa for the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union bringing together Heads of States and Governments from Africa.

This Saturday afternoon at AU headquarters, President Kagame attended the AUDA-NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative Luncheon convened by South African President Ramaphosa.

At this AU summit, President Ramaphosa will assume African Union chairmanship from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.