ICT Minister rallies Rwandan women in tech to “Impact the Future”

Over 200 women in technology from across Rwanda gathered at the Carnegie Mellon University Africa campus based in the Kigali Special Economic Zone on Saturday, March 9, 2024, to celebrate the annual International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, backed by partners like QT Global Software, Ampersand, AC Group, Umurava, Google, Bouletteproof and Women in Tech (WiT) Club CMU-Africa.

Organized by the Women Techmakers (WTM) as part of its global and largest annual campaign in Kigali, this year’s event theme was an empowering rally to “Impact the Future,” demonstrating the importance of women leading technological transformations to reshape communities. The day started with Professor Conrad Tucker, Director of CMU Africa, and Delphine Nyaboke, President of the Women in Tech Club, welcoming attendees from across the country united by a passion for innovation and an equitable future while highlighting women’s leading role in shaping the future trajectories of transformative technologies.

In her keynote address, Paula Ingabire, a technology leader and former MIT fellow serving as Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, emphasised women’s tremendous power and profound responsibility to create positive change by leveraging their tech skills, creativity, and passion.

Also read: Rwanda Innovation Boom: Top 10 tech events to attend in 2024

“We are the architects of the future we want to manifest in this world,” Minister Ingabire said while encouraging attendees to embrace the challenge as cutting-edge innovation leaders and futurists. “There is an urgent need to break barriers for women to succeed in technology fields that will define tomorrow.”

While speaking to TechGyant, the Honourable Minister made a call to action, purposefully creating ecosystems enabling every girl and woman to thrive in technology careers and acquire STEM education, referencing existing government initiatives like the Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA) and “Lift Her Up” initiative committed to bridging the gender gap in tech talent in the country. She also announced Rwanda’s upcoming launch of a digital nomad visa program aimed at attracting top global tech talent and entrepreneurs. The initiative could facilitate valuable knowledge sharing, mentorship, and collaboration between local and international communities of women in tech.

“We want Rwanda to become the premier destination for the world’s leading digital workers and innovators,” the Minister told TechGyant. “Our new digital nomad visa will also allow talented women technologists and creators from around the globe to live and work remotely from Rwanda, tapping into our thriving tech ecosystem and incredible pool of emerging women in tech.”

The International Women’s Day program featured various activities designed to inform, inspire, and push boundaries as influential women in Rwandan tech thought-led panel sessions and technical talks spotlighting emerging trends across AI/ML, android development, flutter, Web3, and other disruptive technologies. The speakers included Arlette Munezero, Head of Information at Bank of Kigali; Solange Iyubu, Software Developer at QT Global and Founder of Urwejo Tech Hub; Jacques Nyilinkindi, Head of Software Development at Bouletteproff and Dr. Christine Niyizamwiyitira, Scholar in Residence at CMU Africa’s EdTech program.

The panel session explored key themes like overcoming societal barriers and breaking stigmas that have historically excluded women from STEM fields. Solange Iyubu, a software developer at QT Global Software and the founder of the URWEJO Tech mentorship hub, shared how she overcame daunting challenges as a tech entrepreneur, including a lack of capital, by tapping into local government, volunteer networks, and bootstrapping with her income.

Panelists highlighted the urgency of breaking misconceptions that prevent girls from pursuing STEM education and careers. Dr. Christine Niyizamwiyitira of CMU Africa’s EdTech program emphasised that over 50% of Rwanda’s population is female – underscoring their indispensable role in driving innovation and economic growth.

Also read: IWD 2024: Women Leading the Rwanda Tech Ecosystem

Jacques Nyilinkindi, Head of Software Development at Bouletteproof, also speaking as a panelist, talks about how women’s contribution is a core part of emerging technologies and how they bring new perspectives to tech; he believes in inclusion while building tech products and how women can prove their skills and show a high level of expertise to increase the candidacy percentage of women compared to men while applying for jobs.

Also speaking at the event was Vivens Uwizeyimana, CEO at Umurava, an AI-powered talent marketplace and workforce outsourcing startup with a pipeline of hundreds of jobs struggling to find qualified local talent, underscoring the urgent need for more women in tech. While delivering an insightful presentation, he mentioned how networking is an essential aspect of personal and career development, as over 85% of all jobs in the rapidly evolving market are filled via networking.

As the event inspired attendees to turn their bold visions into action, it showcased how the global International Women’s Day campaign by Google’s Women Techmakers program serves as a catalysing force to empower women to lead, innovate, and inspire across the technology world, as captured by the Kigali theme.

By amplifying voices and creating spaces for connection, learning, and advocacy, Women Techmakers Kigali is set to uplift women in Rwandan tech to ascend as transformative leaders and innovators in the tech and startup ecosystem as a formidable force ready to build a more equitable and impactful future envisioned throughout the day’s activities.