Rwanda is set to strengthen its position as a regional hub for fashion and textile manufacturing following the launch of a new fashion education initiative in partnership with Kent State University from the United States.
The project was officially unveiled on June 19 during a meeting that brought together government officials, fashion industry stakeholders, and representatives from Kent State University, who also toured the facilities that will host the institution.
Speaking at the event, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine Kajangwe, said the initiative comes at a crucial time as the country accelerates efforts to expand its garment manufacturing sector.
“As we continue to develop our industries, investing in people’s skills and knowledge will be a cornerstone of this agenda,” Kajangwe said. “The curriculum being developed by Kent State University is expected to equip students with skills that go beyond designing clothes, including marketing, merchandising, and market development.”
He emphasized that Rwanda’s ambition is not only to increase domestic clothing production but also to build globally competitive fashion brands capable of succeeding in international markets.
Kent State University officials said Rwanda emerged as the preferred destination for expansion after conducting an extensive assessment across Africa, citing the country’s investor-friendly environment and commitment to education.
The university’s Vice President for Global Education, Marcello Fantoni, said Rwanda’s strong investment in education and human capital development made it an obvious choice.
“We chose Rwanda after extensive research and discovered that it possesses tremendous potential,” Fantoni said. “Rwanda is progressing at an extraordinary pace, and its investment in education and empowering its citizens is truly remarkable.”
Fantoni added that the institution aims to help Rwanda cultivate talent capable of turning opportunities in the fashion economy into sustainable businesses by combining creative design expertise with commercial skills.
“We are not here to teach Rwandans how to do fashion. We are here to help Rwandans teach the world how to do fashion,” he said.
Students who complete their studies at the university will receive degrees equivalent to those awarded at Kent State University campuses in the United States.
Admission will be based on academic qualifications, and the university indicated that efforts are underway to ensure access for a wider range of students through financial support mechanisms.
“Many students will receive support through the Ministry of Education,” Fantoni said.
Maximilien Kolbe Hategikimana, Program Director at Kent State University-Rwanda, said the project seeks to address longstanding barriers that have prevented Africa from fully participating in the global fashion economy.
“This university will provide African solutions to the challenges that have limited the continent’s contribution to the fashion economy,” Hategikimana said. “Despite the creative economy exceeding $58 billion, Africa has long struggled with limited training opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient support mechanisms for the industry.”
The initiative comes as the global fashion industry is valued at approximately $1.2 trillion and is projected to reach $2.3 trillion within the next four years, while Africa continues to account for only a small share of that growth.
The new institution is expected to create jobs, promote entrepreneurship, advance sustainable development, nurture talent, and support Rwanda’s ambition of becoming a leading center for garment manufacturing and fashion innovation in Africa.
