H.E. Paul Kagame on Friday evening announced his new cabinet following his re-election as the President of the Republic of Rwanda. As seen from the list, the majority of the members from the previous cabinet have retained their positions including Paula Ingabire who has served as the Minister of Information and Communications Technology and Innovation, in the cabinet since 2018.
As reported by The New Times Rwanda, Ingabire is a promoter and advocate of blockchain technology. She visualizes the technology as being part of what she terms the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies —and according to the minister, such innovations can help Rwanda develop her healthcare systems, and tourism sectors.
Prior to her appointment in 2018, Ingabire served as Head of the ICT Business Development Department of the Rwanda Development Board and Coordinator of the Kigali Innovation City Project. She also worked as the Smart Africa coordinator, an initiative that seeks to leverage broadband infrastructure to drive Africa’s socio-economic growth.
Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation is mandated to monitor and evaluate the implementation of national policies, strategies, and programs to promote technology & communication, developing & disseminating policies, strategies & programs for ICT and Innovation. The ministry is run through two key departments; the Digital Government Transformation, and the Innovation & Business Development. In addition, the ministry runs a program dubbed Innovation and ICT Private Sector Development.
Ingabire is assisted by Yves Iradukunda; Permanent Secretary, Gordon Kalema; General Director, Digital Transformation Directorate, and Esther Kunda; Director General, Innovation & Emerging Technologies.
