Prof Kingsley Moghalu Appointed Inaugural President of the African School of Governance By Ebuka Onyekwelu

The President of Rwanda, His Excellency, Paul Kagame, and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn, have partnered with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and the Master Card Foundation, to establish the African School of Governance in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Members of the Governing Board of the African School of Governance, according to a statement signed by JohnPaul Sesonga of the African School of Governance Foundation include Makhtar Diop, the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation and former Senegalese Minister of Finance and Economy. Mr. Diop is the Chairman of the Institution’s Governing Board. Donald Kaberuka, who is a former president of the African Development Bank is a member of the Institution’s Board. Others are Professor Hajer Gueldich, former Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and Francis Gatare, the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board.

Professor Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been appointed the inaugural President of the African School of Governance. According to a statement by JohnPaul Sesonga of African School of Governance Foundation, “The ASG Foundation has appointed Professor Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a distinguished scholar and academic, to be the inaugural President of ASG”. The statement which also hinted on the vision of the Institution pointed out that offering premium education in governance and policy is at the centre of the Institution’s vision. “The collective vision of ASG’s leadership is to create an Institution that offers world-class education in governance and public policy while promoting home-grown solutions to Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities.”

The African School of Governance aims to tackle Africa’s development and governance challenges. According to Sesonga, “The continent’s policymakers face complex and urgent issues that require skilled leadership. ASG aims to meet this critical need, by developing current and future leaders who can address these challenges through a shift in leadership”. The Institution also targets academic excellence through specific advanced degrees such as Master of Public Administration, Executive Master of Public Administration, and other specialized executive courses. The School equally focuses on innovative research and Policy engagement. “The ASG will play a critical role in advancing governance through its dedicated research centres. This includes the Centre for Home-Grown Innovations in Policy and Governance, the Centre for African History and Leadership, the Centre for Trade and Regional Integration and the Centre for Technology and Effective Delivery,” Sesonga said.

The African School of Governance is expected to become a pacesetter in governance issues and public policy across Africa and beyond.

Source: West African Pilot, October 21, 2024