Nigerian economist and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Kingsley Moghalu, has been named the first president of the newly formed African School of Governance (ASG).
This announcement was made in a statement issued by the institution on Sunday.
Located in Kigali, Rwanda, the ASG is dedicated to transforming governance throughout Africa by providing top-tier public policy education and research initiatives that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the continent.
Mr. Moghalu, a distinguished academic and former United Nations official, will guide the institution in tackling critical governance issues facing Africa.
“We are excited to welcome Kingsley Moghalu as President of the African School of Governance. His sterling track record of leadership in international and national policymaking institutions, and academia, as his thought leadership influence, will help make ASG a transformative graduate school and develop a new generation of purpose-driven leaders with the skills and mindsets to help Africa address the challenges of the 21st Century,” Makhtar Diop, managing director of the IFC and Chair of ASG’s Board, said in the statement.
“The establishment of ASG is a powerful expression of a clear vision on the part of the founding leaders,” Mr Moghalu said in response to his appointment. “I share this vision of a transformed Africa driven by competent leadership and governance, and I am honoured to have been tasked with leading ASG’s critical contribution to making that vision a reality.”
Mr. Moghalu’s leadership is anticipated to be crucial in achieving the ASG’s goal of providing advanced academic programs, pioneering research, and engaging in policy discussions.
With an emphasis on empowering African leaders through education and innovation, Mr. Moghalu is expected to be pivotal in positioning ASG as a center for intellectual development and policy solutions across the continent.
The ASG initiative, which was launched by influential African leaders such as President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders equipped with the necessary skills and perspectives to promote sustainable development and governance reform throughout Africa.
The establishment of the institution is a partnership between distinguished African visionaries and global collaborators, supported by the Mastercard Foundation as part of its Young Africa Works strategy, which seeks to provide 30 million young Africans, with 70 percent being women, access to dignified and meaningful employment by 2030.
The initiative intends to integrate international best practices with the distinct political, social, and economic realities of Africa.
An independent governing board, chaired by Mr. Diop, will oversee the School.
The board comprises prominent individuals, including Donald Kaberuka, former president of the African Development Bank; Hajer Gueldich, a professor at the University of Carthage; Kishore Mahbubani, former dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore; and Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board.