{"id":2000104371,"date":"2026-03-07T15:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T13:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000104371"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:45:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:45:36","slug":"meet-dr-gaidi-faraj-the-educator-behind-a-school-nurturing-africas-future-ai-innovators-in-rwanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/meet-dr-gaidi-faraj-the-educator-behind-a-school-nurturing-africas-future-ai-innovators-in-rwanda\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Dr. Gaidi Faraj, the educator behind a school nurturing Africa\u2019s future AI innovators in Rwanda (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Holding a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, Faraj first moved to Tanzania for dissertation research, where he ended up living for about 12 years before eventually relocating to Rwanda, where he established the African Olympiad Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latter is a unique school dedicated to training the continent\u2019s next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In  an  exclusive interview with IGIHE reflecting on the decision to set up his school in Rwanda, Dr. Faraj explained that the country offers a unique environment for building impactful institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth my wife and I have a very strong commitment to Pan-African institution building. We chose Rwanda as our base, but it’s not just to do work in Rwanda or just to impact Rwanda. Rwanda is almost like a sandbox where you can operate within a very safe and disciplined environment to build institutions and structures that have broader impact beyond the borders of Rwanda,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Faraj\u2019s journey into education deepened after working in Tanzania\u2019s private sector during a period when the country\u2019s economy was opening up and undergoing rapid change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducation is my real passion. I believe in the transformative power of education,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His academic path led him to the African Leadership University (ALU), where he first worked in Mauritius before being asked to move to Rwanda to help launch the institution\u2019s campus in 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his time in Rwanda, Faraj came to see the country as an example of how strategic planning and discipline can rebuild a nation and create an environment that supports innovation and institution building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the things that I really appreciate about Rwanda is that it is a proof of concept. Rwanda has been able to rebuild itself through focus, discipline, strategic planning and a real commitment to institution building,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by this environment, Dr. Faraj later co-founded the African Olympiad Academy (AOA) in Kigali, a Pan-African residential high school dedicated to nurturing Africa\u2019s most talented students in mathematics, science, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academy, launched in November 2025, offers full scholarships and uses an Olympiad-based learning approach to prepare students for international competitions and careers in advanced technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Faraj and his wife are both committed to Pan-African institution building, using Rwanda as a foundation to impact the continent and beyond.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Faraj, the school also aims to challenge common misconceptions about Africa\u2019s intellectual history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want our students to understand that they come from a rich tradition of doing mathematics and STEM on the continent. Too often Africans get pigeonholed as only doing culture, but the reality is we built the pyramids, and the pyramids required a great amount of math,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academy is located in Kanombe, Kigali, on the renovated campus of a former primary school. At the entrance stands a large mural illustrating the history of science and technology in Africa, linking ancient achievements with modern landmarks like the Kigali Convention Centre and an imagined Afro-futurist future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is our Afro-futurism mural. We want to inspire our students to think about themselves as the architects of Africa\u2019s future,\u201d Dr. Faraj said. \u201cIf we ever achieve the Africa we want, it will be because our students have been able to imagine and build what that future looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the academy hosts 30 students from eight African countries, with plans to expand gradually to about 120 students. Admission is highly competitive, and unlike traditional schools, students do not apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students are selected through competitions, mathematics camps, and the Rwanda Olympiad program, which attracts tens of thousands of participants across the continent. In one recent competition, more than 60,000 students participated before the selection process narrowed down to a small group of finalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At AOA, the curriculum is built around three core subjects: foundational mathematics, applied mathematics, and global perspectives. The emphasis on mathematics is particularly important in the age of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t really have AI if you don\u2019t have strong foundational math,\u201d Dr. Faraj said. \u201cIf Africa does not develop its own AI developers, we will simply remain consumers of technologies created elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The applied mathematics courses include physics and computer science, while the global perspectives program ensures students understand history, geopolitics, economics, and African identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want our students to understand the world around them and have a strong sense of African identity so that when they apply their skills, they are solving real problems facing the continent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students at the African Olympiad Academy (AOA) are mastering applied mathematics, equipping themselves with the skills needed to innovate in AI and technology.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some of the dedicated staff at the African Olympiad Academy (AOA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Life at the academy extends beyond the classroom. The campus features murals celebrating African scientists and innovators, residential facilities for students, and spaces where learners interact through activities such as games, movie nights, and discussions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academy also runs an online initiative called Rising Stars, which provides mathematics training for talented students across Africa in both English and French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rwanda\u2019s supportive environment played a crucial role in the academy\u2019s rapid development. According to Dr. Faraj, the country\u2019s stability, openness to African diaspora professionals, and ease of establishing institutions allowed the school to launch in just one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, the academy aims to prepare students to compete in prestigious competitions such as the International Mathematical Olympiad and other global science contests. Dr. Faraj believes that such programs can help African students gain entry to the world\u2019s top universities and become innovators shaping the continent\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur mission here is really about scaling impact,\u201d he said. \u201cResearch shows that students who participate in math Olympiads often go on to achieve extraordinary things. We want our students to be AI creators and developers so that Africa is not dependent on technologies built elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the African Olympiad Academy, Dr. Faraj hopes to build a Pan-African educational ecosystem capable of transforming Africa\u2019s youngest generation into global leaders in science, technology, and innovation during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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