President Paul Kagame was announced winner of a prestigious award by World Technology Network.And when he spoke, he clearly stated the importance of technology in Rwanda’s development process.

Being a leader of a rising country, that has achieved what many never envisaged, given Rwanda’s recent history, Kagame has been and remains the leading and ideal spokesman of what Africa and the rest of the developing world, given the right circumstances can achieve. Rwanda has come to symbolize that.

He has personally provided visionary leadership that has sought to fast track the national development process with an obvious and immediate impact.

Indeed his leadership in the areas of ICT and other aspects of national life like empowering hitherto marginalized groups; by bringing them to the decision making process has helped to highlight the importance of individual agency of a dynamic leader.

At a time when the leadership started out in seeking to transform Rwanda into an ICT hub in the region, one will recall that there were dissenting voices that claimed that the country was getting its priorities wrong.

But a few years down the road we are already reaping the fruits of the venture. ICT has transformed health care provision among other positive impacts.

A healthy population is not just a result of development but also a pre-requisite for development that is sustainable.

Kagame represents what an individual visionary leader at the helm of a nation state, can do in the process of transforming a society.

And by being given an award, the World Technology Network has recognized that.

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