Dr. Edouard Ngirente, who served as Rwanda’s Prime Minister for the past eight years and has now been replaced, has expressed his deep gratitude to President Paul Kagame for the trust placed in him and for the opportunity to serve. He affirmed that the role significantly enriched his personal and professional journey.
Born on February 22, 1973, Dr. Ngirente was appointed Prime Minister on August 30, 2017, by President Kagame. He became Rwanda’s 11th Prime Minister in history and the sixth to serve since the country’s liberation and the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He was among the leaders appointed following the 2017 presidential elections, transitioning from his role as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank.
In a message he shared on Wednesday evening following his replacement by Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, Dr. Ngirente stated:
I sincerely thank His Excellency President Paul Kagame for the trust he placed in me by appointing me as Prime Minister over the past eight years. It has been a journey of great learning and growth.
Your Excellency, I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve our country and for your consistent support throughout this journey. You have been a true role model. I will always be proud of the trust you placed in me.”
Both Rwandans and international observers took the opportunity to commend Dr. Ngirente for his dedication and service to Rwanda during his eight-year tenure, which was marked by significant and positive transformations across various sectors.
Notably, his leadership was recognized for strengthening accountability in governance, increasing teachers’ salaries, reforming the Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP), among many other impactful initiatives.
One message of appreciation read:
“Thank you, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, for your dedicated, visionary, and committed service. Your leadership has left a lasting legacy in Rwanda. I wish you continued success and impactful contributions in this next chapter of your life. Best wishes and may God bless you.”
Those who paid tribute to his leadership noted that he was not just a public servant but a guiding light who instilled hope, promoted development, and upheld reason, particularly during challenging times.
Another citizen remarked:
“You were a great example of what a Rwandan can and should aspire to be. You demonstrated your intellect and quietly achieved many impactful things. That humility is among the many lessons we’ve learned from you. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”
Before joining the World Bank, Dr. Ngirente held several key positions in Rwanda, including Director General of Planning and Research for National Development at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN).
He also served as a senior lecturer at the former National University of Rwanda until 2010, when he became Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the same university.
During his time at the World Bank, Dr. Ngirente made notable contributions to economic research, authoring several studies focused on regional markets and economic challenges, with a particular emphasis on Rwanda.
He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Louvain in Belgium, a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the same university, and another Master’s degree in Economic Risk Management from Saint Louis University in Brussels, Belgium.
He also holds a university-level certificate in econometrics from the University of Louvain and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the former National University of Rwanda.
ND
