Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn To Keynote Elite African Leadership Program In Kigali
Former Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Desalegn to Keynote Elite African Leadership Program in Kigali, Co-Founding African School of Governance
Kigali, Rwanda – July 7, 2025 – H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, is slated to deliver a keynote address at the inaugural “Transforming Countries: How to Become the Leader Your Country Needs” executive leadership program. The prestigious, invitation-only event, organized by the African School of Governance (ASG), will run from July 8-10, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, and aims to cultivate visionary, values-driven leaders for the African continent.
The program boasts an impressive roster of world-class African thinkers and practitioners, including Nobel laureates and former heads of multilateral institutions. Alongside Mr. Desalegn, the distinguished faculty includes Dr. Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu (Nigeria), Dr. Ken Opalo (Kenya), Dr. James A. Robinson (British-American), and facilitator Momar Dieng (Senegal). Their combined expertise promises deep insights, global experience, and bold ideas to equip leaders and influencers with the tools necessary for meaningful change.
Hailemariam Desalegn’s participation as a keynote speaker highlights his continued dedication to a prosperous and stable Africa, a role he has embraced since his unprecedented voluntary resignation as Prime Minister of Ethiopia in 2018. In the years since, he has transitioned into a highly influential global and continental figure, tirelessly contributing to peace, sustainable development, environmental protection, and strategic policy formulation.
Crucially, information from the institution reveals that the African School of Governance (ASG) itself was co-founded by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. ASG stands as the first institution in Africa explicitly aimed at addressing governance, leadership, and policy shortcomings across the continent.
Located at its campus in Rwanda, ASG is poised to offer internationally selected programs in policy, research, governance, leadership, and administration to students chosen from across all African countries. Its overarching goal is to develop future leaders who can drive progress on the African continent.
Hailemariam Desalegn embodies a unique blend of steadfast principles and practical leadership, consistently advocating for “African Solutions to African Problems” as essential for the continent’s growth. His voluntary and peaceful handover of power in 2018 was a groundbreaking event in East Africa, earning him international recognition as a pioneer of peaceful power transition. Through his example of peaceful power transition, his work in amplifying Africa’s voice on global platforms, and his substantial contributions to conflict resolution, national unity, and the advancement of African agency, Mr. Desalegn is building a profound and enduring legacy for future generations.
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