The African School of Governance (ASG) last week hosted over 100 participants from 16 nationalities for the first residential block of its Executive Master of Leadership and Governance (EMLG) – a 15-month hybrid programme designed for senior professionals shaping Africa’s institutions.
The inaugural cohort converged at the ASG campus in Kigali for an intensive week of in-person learning, dialogue and peer exchange with ASG faculty and distinguished guest leaders.
A highlight of the week was a provocative session with Prof. PLO Lumumba, who challenged the cohort to rethink the foundations of leadership education on the continent.
He questioned whether Africa is preparing its leaders using models built for Africa, noting that other civilizations that were dominated and conquered have since changed their curriculum.
“Other civilizations which were dominated and conquered have changed their curriculum. They have adopted and adapted. For Africa, the time is now,” Prof. Lumumba told participants.
The session set the tone for the programme’s core mission: to deliver governance education rooted in African perspectives while meeting global academic standards.
ASG President, Francis Gatare, also spent time with the cohort, sharing practical insights on how to navigate an executive programme of this intensity while balancing a full-time leadership role. He offered tips on resilience, time management and getting the most out of ASG’s blend of physical, online and blended learning.
The EMLG is part of ASG’s growing portfolio alongside its Master of Public Administration (MPA) and executive education programmes. Co-founded by H.E. President Paul Kagame and H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, ASG aims to build a pan-African pipeline of purpose-driven leaders capable of addressing complex governance challenges.
The first residential block concluded on a high note, with participants describing it as tough but deeply rewarding.
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