The African School of Governance Foundation (ASGF) announced the establishment of the African School of Governance (ASG) graduate institution designed to offer world-class public policy education, research and engagement programmes. Prominent African leaders have come together in this landmark step, as the initiative is set to transform the continent’s leadership landscape by meeting the diverse needs of leaders across Africa.
The ASG aims to address the continent’s pressing governance challenges by equipping emerging leaders with the mindsets, skills and knowledge required for effective leadership in Africa’s future. The initiative brings together visionaries committed to creating a sustainable governance model rooted in African realities.
A collective leadership vision
The ASG initiative is founded by H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia (both Co-Founders of the ASG Foundation) in consultation with other African leaders, academicians and philanthropists dedicated to improving governance across the continent.
ASG is supported by the Mastercard Foundation as part of its Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young Africans, 70% of whom are women, to access dignified and fulfilling work opportunities by 2030.
ASG will be led by esteemed independent governing board members, chaired by Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and former Minister of Finance and Economy of Senegal, and including Donald Kaberuka, former President of the African Development Bank, Hajer Gueldich, 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.
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 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.
Speaking about the launch, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn said: “The time is ripe for an institution rooted in Africa’s needs and aspirations. The African School of Governance will be a hub for nurturing purpose-driven leaders equipped to tackle the continent’s greatest challenges and opportunities, combining Africa’s uniqueness with international best practices. This is not just an educational institution, but a movement towards sustainable African leadership.”
Tackling Africa’s development and governance challenges
Africa’s rapid economic growth, increasing global influence, and evolving governance structures present unprecedented opportunities and challenges. From post-pandemic recovery to climate adaptation, 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 mindsets, governance and sustainable development to drive long-term, meaningful change across the continent.