The veteran academic will be the most senior representative of the university group in the region and will have oversight of its activities across Africa, including policy development, research, enterprise and innovation, and alumni engagement, among others.
Prof. Lwakabamba will drive business development in the region, using his vast experience, knowledge and network of contacts. He will build collaborative relationships and partnerships to assist long-term knowledge transfer.
The Africa Hub will serve as a base for Coventry University Group in the region, enabling new relationships and strengthening established ones.
Located at Kigali Heights, next to the Kigali Convention Centre, the Hub is part of the university group’s plan to develop a sustainable network of multi-faceted overseas offices. Coventry University Group’s ambition is to have a presence near to its stakeholders in key regions and follows the success of the Singapore and Dubai hubs.
Prof Lwakabamba earned his BSc and doctoral degrees in engineering in the United Kingdom and has held senior positions in higher education in Tanzania and Rwanda. He has also served in the cabinet of the Rwandan government, first as minister of infrastructure and then as minister of education.
Commenting on his appointment, Prof. Lwakabamba said: “ I am delighted to join Coventry University, which is one of the most entrepreneurial universities I know. For me, it is exciting to be part of an institution with great potential to make a difference for our African economies.”
Professor Mohamed Loutfi, the Vice-Chancellor’s Envoy, Coventry University Group said that Prof. Lwakabamba brings long-standing experience to build further relations within the region.
“We are excited to welcome Prof Silas Lwakabamba as the inaugural managing director of the Africa Hub. He is an exceptional leader, with a distinguished track-record in sub-Saharan countries. His wealth of experience, extensive network of strategic contacts, and profile as a highly respected thought leader will certainly add to Coventry University Group’s understanding and building of further relations within the Sub-Saharan Africa region,” he stressed.
Coventry University Group is focused on creating a global reputation as one of the world’s leading education providers and has achieved success as a leading recruiter of international students. Increasingly, through partnerships and directly, the university group is delivering education internationally. Its network of international hubs will support this work, helping to develop, oversee and manage all of the university group’s activity in their region.
It is due to this background that ‘Ni Nyampinga’, organized a campaign dubbed ‘Akurane Itoto’ loosely translated as ‘Growing Up Healthy’ to raise awareness among teen mothers and young parents in general to adhere to children immunization programmes and improve nutrition.
Launched by Girl Effect in 2011, “Ni Nyampinga” is a Rwandan youth brand which empowers girls to navigate the pivotal time of adolescence, so they are enabled to make choices about their health, education and economic future through interactive platforms including a magazine distributed across the country, radio shows, a serial radio drama, digital platforms, a network of brand ambassadors and self-started clubs.
The campaign followed research that indicated gaps in immunization and improved nutrition programs among children in some districts.
The Country Director of Girl Effect, Tiva Kananura has explained that this Ni Nyampinga campaign took heed to sensitizing teen and young mothers between the age of 15 and 24 on improved nutrition and routine immunization.
The campaign also focused on the role of the society to properly raise children below 2 years old ensuring proper nutrition and access to vaccines.
Tiva Kananura said: “The campaign was conducted across all districts countrywide with a special focus on Gakenke, Huye, Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyamagabe, Nyabihu and Ruhango districts which were identified with gaps in vaccination programs.”
In all districts with special focus on the seven priority districts, young parents were enlightened on the benefits of getting children fully vaccinated and how to prepare a balanced diet for their children to grow up healthy.
Ni Nyampinga encouraged Rwandans to take advantage of introduced vaccination policies for children’s smooth growth.
Speaking to IGIHE; Aurore Irangeneye, a researcher and gender specialist has explained that Rwanda has enough vaccines but some parents don’t enroll children into vaccination programs due to inadequate information.
“Rwanda has vaccines for all children, but some people don’t have access to related information. We organized an engagement with our beneficiaries, both male and female, to acquaint them with the relevance of vaccination programmes, update them on the right times to take vaccines and teach them how to prepare a balanced diet,” she said.
Ni Nyampinga distribution manager, who is also a researcher, Jolie Umunyana has revealed that the campaign was facilitated by ambassadors of “Ni Nyampinga” who assisted beneficiaries through different methodologies and trained them on reproductive health as well.
“We sensitized them on changing their mindsets towards the vaccination programme to understand that it is a shared responsibility among both parents to get children vaccinated. The child should not miss vaccine shots on specific dates because the mother is not present. The husband is also concerned. That is why barriers emanating from gender inequality mindsets should not get loopholes to impede routine immunization.” she stated.
“We also taught teen/young mothers how to prepare a balanced diet within available means. We distributed mini-magazine containing specifically tailored information targeting young mothers and displayed wallpapers with that information at health centers. Men also received leaflets and in-person engagement reminding them of their contribution,” added Umunyana.
Even though a lot has been done; Ilaria Buscaglia, Senior Qualitative Analyst at Girl Effect Rwanda has said that there is still a long way to go for people to understand the relevance of having both parents engaged in childcare which include nutrition and routine immunization.
“We have rolled out the campaign, but changes won’t come at once. There is still a long journey for every man to understand that getting children vaccinated is part of their responsibility. We should focus efforts to communicate relevant information to ensure children get all vaccines and eat properly for smooth growth,” she explained.
The campaign held recently reached 9 635 teen mothers, 7 783 young boys, 1 424 teen fathers and 9 932 older parents. Vaccination and nutrition content produced by Ni Nyampinga can also be accessed from 63,000 Smart Classrooms in schools and 348 access points in the 7 priority districts, as well as on a digital platform called 8-4-5 which uses IVR and USSD technology.
Some participants said that they had fallen victims of beliefs and lack of information and pledged to properly raise their children following the campaign.
“I used to think that two vaccine shots were enough for the child before reading Ni Nyampinga’s mini-magazine dubbed ‘ Ni Bo Ejo’. The campaign equipped me with the right knowledge and taught me that a child received vaccines up to 15 months,” said a 17-year old teen mother from Huye district.
“The campaign was very beneficial because I used to laugh at men taking children for vaccine shots. I have changed my mind, I recently took my child to take the vaccine we had missed in the past two months. Health workers were extremely delighted to see me coming with the child,” revealed a man from Nyabihu district.
The campaign was funded by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health through Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and was implemented in partnership with Girl Guides, The Ministry of Youth and Culture through the National Youth Council, Ministry of Education through the Rwanda Education board, the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO), ActionAid, AEE, AVSI Rwanda, Duhozanye, Empower Rwanda, Komera, Miracle Corners, PACT and RWAMREC.
The cabinet meeting that convened yesterday at Village Urugwiro was chaired by President Paul Kagame. It also reviewed other COVID-19 preventive measures.
Traditional weddings and related receptions have been allowed to resume following nearly a year and half under restriction.
Usually Religious and civil wedding have been allowed with minimal attendance of 20 persons observing COVID-19 health guidelines. Receptions were not allowed that whoever caught violating the directive was subject to penalties.
The cabinet decision has lifted these restrictions for introduction and dowry giving that had been put on halt.
“Traditional wedding and related receptions shall resume not exceeding 30 people. However, when conducted in open gardens/hotels, entertainment venues or open gardens, they should not exceed 30% of venue capacity and COVID-19 testing will be required,” reads part of the cabinet communiqué.
Among others, outdoor sports has is allowed and must comply with health preventive measures.
The cabinet meeting also allowed gaming operators to resume activities gradually upon fulfilling COVID-19 preventive measures.
Curfew hours have been maintained between 10pm to 4am while all businesses shall close by 9pm.
However, special measures have been set for Karongi district where curfew starts from 7PM-4AM due to the increase of new COVID-19 cases.
New measures take immediate effect from 1st June 2021 to be reviewed after one month upon health assessment.
Among others; all bars will remain closed, places of worship adhering to health guidelines will continue to function at 50% maximum occupancy, public transport buses should not exceed 75% capacity, physical meetings will continue not exceeding 30% of venue capacity while public and private offices will continue with essential staff at no more than 50% capacity as other employees continue to work from home on a rotational basis.
The team was ranked the fourth at the inaugural season after losing a semi-final game opposing it with Angola’s Petro de Luanda 97-68.
The Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju was also present as Kagame met with Patriots BBC at Village Urugwiro.
Backed by the National Basketball Association (NBA), the BAL inaugural season lasted for two weeks from 16th to 30th May 2021 at Kigali Arena bringing together 12 clubs from different African countries.
President Paul Kagame attended the final game along with other prominent figures including NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo and Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri.
As the tournament winded up, Zamalek (Egypt) emerged champion after defeating US Monastir (Tunisia) 76-63.
All the 26 games of the tournament were played at the Kigali Arena.
Kagame has congratulated players for their performance, exhibited discipline and professionalism throughout the tournament.
He told them that winning and losing are part of life and urged them to pull lessons from failures.
“I am sure you might be feeling unhappy because you did not lift the trophy but you should be proud that you made others proud as well that is your country, men and women and everyone who was there throughout the time. Your participation was very important not just for Patriots but first of all your fans in the country, and many others and citizens who watched basketball. For those who were not your fans, I am sure they love football and I think they were happy that you participated well and effectively,” he said.
“Secondly, you gave the meaning to our country’s hosting of BAL. That in itself is something you should be proud of. And I am sure what you did not achieve this time around, you must be thinking of and planning to achieve it next time. Winning and losing are part of life. When you lose, don’t waste that loss, because that loss brings to you lessons to learn. If there’s a process that makes you better, that is winning,” added Kagame.
Nyiragongo’s eruption on 22nd May 2021 has had severe effects to Rubavu district located in the neighborhood of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) whereby constant tremors damaged people’s properties and infrastructure in the town and its environs.
The incident pushed officials to suspend schools temporarily and sent students home while some residents from Gisenyi, Rugerero, Rubavu and Busasamana fled to neighboring districts awaiting the situation to normalize.
Among others, five boarding schools were relocated.
The mayor of Rubavu district has told IGIHE that schools have resumed as relevant officials continue to collaborate with head teachers to ensure everything goes smoothly.
“Relocated schools have resumed studies. There are five schools that were relocated while others saw students going back home. They have today returned to school,” he said.
Habyarimana urged students, head teachers and teachers to stay at ease noting that volcanologists predicted no further tremors.
“We want them to stay in comfort, resume studies and work hard. Relevant authorities are making possible efforts to ensure that schools run operations smoothly,” he said.
Daniel Ndagijimana, the head teacher of Kingdom Salomon School has said that some students have not yet returned adding that they will continue mobilizing parents to send them.
Students in boarding schools returned to school on Sunday 30th May 2021 while day-students with families that fled to other parts of the country have not yet returned.
Rwanda began countrywide vaccination program on 5th March 2021 after receiving approximately 400,000 vaccines through Covax initiative while 50,000 vaccine doses were donated by India.
The second dose of AstraZeneca is offered between 8 to 12 weeks while the second shot for Pfizer vaccine takes between 21 to 28 days.
Inoculation exercise for the second shot kicked off in Kigali on Friday 2nd April 2021.
At the time, the Ministry of Health told the general public that recipients of AstraZeneca doses will be communicated on vaccination schedule in due time.
Following a successful roll out of COVID-19 vaccination campaign that has seen 350,400 inoculated, Rwanda started a new nation-wide vaccination drive to fully immunize those who had previously received first doses of OXFORD-Astra Zeneca vaccine effective 29th May 2021.
The move came after the country received an additional 247,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, including 117,600 doses donated by the Government of France.
Since then, a total of 133,460 people have been vaccinated in two days.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 918 people have been tested positive of whom 25 609 have recovered, 957 are active cases while 352 have succumbed to the virus.
The house named ‘Rotary House for Cancer Patients’ was completed at Rwf 51 million and has the capacity to accommodate 25 patients.
The facility from where patients will rest and commute to the hospital during treatment was handed over to Gasabo district officials on Friday 28th May 2021.
The President of Rotary Club Kigali-Virunga, Jwala Vijay Kumar has said that the project was implemented to facilitate cancer patients with no means to afford accommodation as they get treatment at Kanombe Military Hospital.
“The treatment takes between three to six weeks for patients getting radiotherapy treatment at Kanombe Military Hospital from across the country. Some people were advised to stay in Kigali as they get treatment yet some of them cannot afford accommodation expenses in hotels or don’t have friends to receive them. They would prefer to spend days in slums and unhygienic places where they were exposed to infections,” he said.
“That is why we decided to provide a comfortable house where they will stay as they get treatment,” he added.
The executive secretary of Gasabo district, Pauline Umwali thanked Rotary Club for the newly renovated house replacing old structures that have been idle.
“The district had not yet got means to renovate old structures until Rotary Club Virunga provided support so that the house can be used by cancer patients. We are grateful for this kind gesture in no smaller part,” she noted.
Umwali explained that the district will maintain collaboration with different partners to take care of patients of the facility be it the provision of food and cleaning the house among others.
All services at the house will be offered for free.
Renovations of the ‘Rotary House for Cancer Patients’ started in 2019 until 2021.
Rotary Club Kigali-Virunga built the house in partnership with various partners including Kibagabaga Hospital, Kanombe Military Hospital, non-profit organizations from Germany and the United States of America and US embassy in Rwanda among others.
Rotary club is an organization purposed to bring together businesses and professionals to provide humanitarian services and providing support in addressing problems facing the world by combating illiteracy and poverty, contributing to the provision of safe water, handling disputes and fighting disease.
Rwanda has six clubs of Rotary Club including, Kigali Mont Jali, Musanze, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Gasabo and Butare.
Macron arrived at Kigali International Airport on Thursday morning where he was welcomed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
He was later welcomed by his counterpart of Rwanda, Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro around 9am from where he headed to Kigali Genocide Memorial.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Dria and parliamentarians including Hervé Berville hailing from Nyamirambo in Rwanda are among top officials that accompanied Macron on his historical visit.
Gen Jean Varret, a historian who served as the head of France-Rwanda military cooperation mission from October 1990 to April 1993, was also part of the delegation accompanying Macron.
On his visit to Rwanda, Macron visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid tribute to over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and admitted his country’s responsibility during the Genocide.
He also participated in a joint press conference with his host, President Paul Kagame, visited Tumba College of Technology where a Department of Mechatronics will be set up through a partnership with French Agency for Development (AFD).
On the same day, Macron visited Gikondo Health Center before officiating the launch of French Cultural Center located near Kigali Convention Center, Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District.
The center has a section dedicated to learning French, culture-based training and providing official French language certification, boasts a large outdoor stage that can host shows and concerts.
The French Cultural Centre will also host cinema screenings for the general public, and workshops among others.
On Thursday night, Macron and Kagame watched quarter-finals of the inaugural season of Basketball Africa League (BAL) during which Patriots BBC representing Rwanda beat Ferroviário de Maputo representing Mozambique73-71 at Kigali Arena.
Among others, his visit left various agreements signed between both countries. The pacts include a framework for bilateral cooperation signed between French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta.
The two countries signed an agreement for sports and talent development which saw Rwanda receiving €1.5 million (approximately Rwf1.84 billion) for sport and talent development.
Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana also signed a Euro 60 million financing agreement with Rémy Rioux the Director-General of French Agency for Development (AFD).
His coming to Rwanda is considered a major milestone to turning a new page for both countries relations blurred by France’s failure to admit its role during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Rwanda, France diplomatic relations date back in 1962 after obtaining Independence.
Macron has been in Rwanda for two-day following the visit of Nicolas Sarkozy on 25th February 2010.
The budgetary financing will support Rwanda’s COVID-19 health response plan through vaccine purchase and distribution as well as Social Protection Response Plan.
The financing agreement was signed by Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, on behalf of Government of Rwanda and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Rémy Rioux, on behalf of AFD.
This financing will make it possible in particular to support the health system priority measures of increasing detection and diagnostic capacities, enhancing the case management capacity, and ensuring continuity of patient cares especially for pregnant women.
The financial support will also help to strengthen social protection response plan which is structured to support three core areas that include strengthening and extending existing Vision Umurenge Program delivery system; setting up a direct support system for the informal sector; and establishment of complementary support measures to preserve the access of the poorest to education and basic health care.
In his remarks after the agreement signing, Minister Ndagijimana said: “This support comes at a critical moment as Rwanda looks forward to reopening its economy and return to pre COVID-19 pandemic normalcy. It will augment our COVID-19 vaccine purchase efforts, reinforce our health and social protection systems thereby ensuring proper handling of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond but also protecting vulnerable people.”
Mr. Rémy Rioux, the AFD’s Chief Executive Officer said the support reinforces existing efforts.
“While Covid-19-related mortality was brought under control in the country by strong and exemplary measures of containment, the social and economic consequences, particularly for precarious workers in the informal sector, need to be addressed.AFD, via its Health in Common initiative, is therefore keen to support Rwanda in its social protection measures to limit the effects of the crisis on the most vulnerable populations,” he noted.
AFD has since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic strengthened its bilateral cooperation with Rwanda.
So far AFD has provided a budget support worth Euro 40 million and project support worth Euro 80 million for energy access as well as Euro 5.8 million for technical and vocational education.
Currently both countries are exploring several areas of cooperation that may include Energy, digital transformation, Education, health, private sector development among others.
The Centre is located near Kigali Convention Center, Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District. The center was initially expected to be inaugurated in 2020 but construction activities delayed and were completed in April 2021 due to COVID-19.
The former French Cultural Center building used to be called ‘Centre D’Echanges Culturels Franco-Rwandais’ and was located in Kiyovu, nearby the city center’s main roundabout.
It was closed in 2014 by Kigali City Officials because the structure was not in line with the new City Master Plan.
As he inaugurated the center yesterday on the first day of his visit to Rwanda, Macron said that it should be a place to promote French language, culture and and innovations.
“French language has become an international language through invention, innovation, conquest, colonization, ambitions of French people in the past centuries to make it a dominant language […] The good thing is that French language was reinvented and spoken in many countries,” he said.
“There are men and women writing in French, innovating in their language, reinventing it and the center of that language is based in Africa with presence of very young and dynamic French writers and speakers,” he added.
Since 2014, the cultural center office was in France’s Embassy in Rwanda, where its activities like entertainment and book reading were held in Kigali Public Library and the Goethe Institute in Nyarugenge District.
It has a section dedicated to learning French, culture-based training and providing official French language certification, boasts a large outdoor stage that can host shows and concerts.
The French Cultural Centre will also host cinema screenings for the general public, and workshops among others.
Macron said that Rwanda’s youth should tap into opportunities presented by the French Cultural Center noting that they also stand chance to get scholarships in coming years.
Macron arrived in Rwanda on 27th May for a two-day official visit.
Upon arrival, he visited Kigali Genocide Memorial and later participated in a joint press conference with his counterpart of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.
His coming to Rwanda is considered a major milestone to turning a new page for both countries relations blurred by France’s failure to admit its role during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
As he visited Kigali Genocide Memorial on Thursday, Macron admitted his country’s responsivity during the Genocide .
“Standing here today, with humility and respect, by your side, I have come to recognize our responsibilities,” said Macron.
He said that France had a duty to admit the “suffering it inflicted on the Rwandan people by too long valuing silence over the examination of the truth.”
Macron said that only those who had survived the horrors “can perhaps forgive; give us the gift of forgiveness”.
