The President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has expressed his gratitude to Dr. Ngirente Edouard, who was replaced as Prime Minister after eight years in office, stressing that they worked very well together. Dr. Ngirente is one of the dignitaries who attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Prime Minister, Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, and the members of the new Government, and President Kagame thanked him in person.
He said: “We worked so well together that I used to give him a hard time. I would start with his name and ask him what I should do. I would say: ‘Prime Minister, do this!’ And he would start doing exactly that. I would like to thank you very much, and I would like to make it clear that those who were reassigned and those who were not reassigned are there, waiting for them. It only changes but it does not end there, that is what should be understood.”
President Kagame said that Rwandans are wanted in various sectors to serve the country, which is why changes in leadership will be constant. Dr. Ngirente became the 11th Prime Minister in the history of the Republic of Rwanda, and the sixth since Rwanda was liberated and the Genocide against the Tutsi ended in 1994.
He was one of the leaders sworn in after the 2017 presidential elections, when he assumed the role from the World Bank, where he was an Advisor to the Managing Director.
In a message delivered on Wednesday evening after succeeding Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva, Dr. Ngirente said: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency, President Paul Kagame, for the trust you have placed in me by entrusting me with the responsibility of Prime Minister for the past 8 years. It has been a journey that has benefited me greatly.
Your Excellency, I thank you for the opportunity you have given me to serve our country and for your continued support and guidance throughout this journey. You have been a role model to me. I will always be proud of the trust you have placed in me.”
Various Rwandans and foreigners took the opportunity to thank Dr. Ngirente for his dedication in serving Rwanda during his eight years in office, as many positive changes have been seen in the life of the country.
particular, the changes highlighted are the dedication shown in promoting accountable leadership, increasing teacher salaries, changes in VUP and many more. One of those who sent him a message of appreciation said: “Thank you Mr. Dr. Eduard Ngirente for your dedication, vision and determination. Your leadership has left an eternal mark on Rwanda. I wish you to continue to demonstrate change in a new phase of life. Good times and may God bless you.”
Those who congratulated him indicated that his leadership was characterized by not only being a civil servant but also a good example of hope, a guardian of development, and a voice of reason especially in times of trouble. Another resident said: “You have been a good example of what a Rwandan can or should achieve, you have demonstrated your skills and done your job quietly. This is one of the things we have learned from you. We wish you good luck in your future endeavors.”
Dr. Ngirente held various other positions in Rwanda before joining the World Bank, including as the Director General for National Development Planning and Research at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN).
Dr. Ngirente also served as a Senior Lecturer at the National University of Rwanda until 2010 when he was appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the university.
Since his appointment at the World Bank, Dr. Ngirente has made significant contributions to economic research, writing extensively on regional markets and economic challenges with a focus on Rwanda.
He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Louvain in Belgium, an MCs in Agricultural Economics from the same university, and an MA in Economic Risk Management from the University of Saint Louis in Brussels, Belgium. He also holds a University Certificate in Statistics from the University of Louvain and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the former National University of Rwanda
