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\u2019s wedding. Stunned by the city\u2019s reliable electricity and infrastructure\u2014despite Rwanda\u2019s limited resources compared to Ghana\u2014he admitted, \u201cI was almost embarrassed to be a Ghanaian.\u201d <\/p>\n
This prompted him to host the African Leadership Network conference in Rwanda, where Kagame\u2019s keynote aligned with Swaniker\u2019s belief that \u201cAfrica needs to be excellent.\u201d \u201cHe has very high standards,\u201d Swaniker said, marking the start of a partnership that made Rwanda his \u201csecond home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kagame\u2019s decisive action cemented Swaniker\u2019s respect. When Swaniker requested land for ALU\u2019s campus, Kagame delivered swiftly. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is on a Saturday,\u201d Swaniker recalled. \u201cHe said, \u2018How many hectares?\u2019 I said, \u2018I need 50 hectares.\u2019 He said, \u2018Okay, no, we\u2019ll give you 25.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n
Doubting, Swaniker thought, \u201cHe\u2019s just an African politician making empty promises.\u201d Yet, days later, a text arrived: \u201cCongratulations. 20 acres of land have been allocated to ALU.\u201d <\/p>\n
Within a month, Swaniker held the title deeds. \u201cWhich president in the world moves that fast?\u201d he marveled. Today, ALU educates 3,000 students and earns global acclaim, thanks to Kagame\u2019s support.<\/p>\n
Swaniker credits Kagame\u2019s \u201cvery clear vision\u201d for Rwanda\u2019s transformation. \u201cThere\u2019s 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,\u201d he said, referencing the genocide that took lives of over a million people. <\/p>\n
According to Swaniker, Kagame\u2019s leadership enabled innovations like Zipline\u2019s drone deliveries and ALU\u2019s three-month accreditation, bypassing bureaucracy that stalls progress elsewhere. <\/p>\n
In a continent plagued by leadership failures, Swaniker sees Kagame as an exception. <\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d he noted. <\/p>\n
He further described him as a \u2018very effective leader\u2019 who serves his people, fostering an environment where innovators thrive. <\/p>\n
Swaniker\u2019s praise challenges African leaders to emulate Kagame\u2019s blend of vision and action, offering hope that Rwanda\u2019s model can inspire a broader renaissance across the continent.<\/p>\n