Connecting Rwanda

CMU-Africa recently participated in Connect Rwanda, a smartphone distribution initiative co-championed by telecommunications provider MTN Rwanda in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT). Connect Rwanda has a goal of distributing one smartphone to one household per village — amounting to a total of 16,250 smartphones across the country of Rwanda.

According to the MINICT, the Connect Rwanda initiative was launched to create awareness in Rwanda about the importance of smartphone ownership. The MINICT goes on to explain that smartphones are playing a key role in COVID-19 response in Rwanda, providing easy access to information of the pandemic, dissemination of directives, and Covid-19 guidelines, among others.

Faith Rugema, director for government and community partnerships, represented CMU-Africa at the Connect Rwanda distribution ceremony in Rutsiro. In her speech, she talked about the importance of the initiative and CMU-Africa's excitement to participate in the event.

"As an educational institution, we are particularly pleased to be affiliated with this drive. The increase in internet connectivity and access to smartphones has the potential to change the education landscape," says Rugema.