National

Rwandans Embracing e-learning platform Atingi

Published

3 months ago

November 9, 2021

Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the mode of learning as countries continously institute measures aimed at limiting the spread of the deadly virus.

Rwanda, known for being at the forefront of the digitalization drive, has now embraced a new e-learning platform known as ‘atingi’ that is quickly expanding its footprint on the African continent.

‘Atingi’ means “to achieve something“, in Esperanto, an international language developed in the late 1980s.

This innovative e-learning platform’s typical users are young people struggling with specific career challenges in the face of insufficient education opportunities since public, private and civil society offers are unsatisfactory in many places.

Since its start in 2019, atingi platform has reached about 2 million people in Africa and enabled more than 300,000 to access courses in the variety of disciplines such as entrepreneurship, technology and digital transformation, management and leadership, health, professional orientation.

Atingi e-learning platform led by project leader Jan-Gerrit Groeneveld was piloted in Rwanda in 2020 seconded by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (MINICT).

According to project leader, atingi has contributed to the Digital Ambassadors Programme of the Government of Rwanda aimed at improving digital literacy of citizens across the country.

“Early user acceptance of the learning platform has exceeded initial expectations, which strengthens our belief that investing in digital education infrastructure on the African continent is the right way for us to contribute to unlocking the enormous local economic potential,” says Jan-Gerrit Groeneveld atingi project leader in Rwanda.

Details from project leader indicate that, atingi is an innovative tool that will enable young people in Rwanda and Africa to polish their employability skills free of charge.

The platform is available to the community at zero cost, both online and offline with the atingi app, this was done in a bid to make the platform more accessible and inclusive.

Atingi project representatives Olena Rusnak and Johannes Pohlmann explain that atingi has a constantly growing catalogue of over 300 courses aimed at improving employability of youth through modern digital learning opportunities.

This project is expected to realise its full potential due to its more than 200 symbiotic, varied partnerships with organizations from business, science, civil society and governments.

Meanwhile, this platform originally of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) was developed by a team of education and digital experts and works closely with the Smart Africa Initiative and partners from politics, business, civil society and science.

National

Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania Conduct Progress Tour at Rusumo Falls Dam

Published

13 hours ago

January 25, 2022

Staff Writer

Emmanuel Gasana the Governor of Rwanda’s Eastern Province together with the Regional Commissioner Kagera Region (Tanzania) and the Governors of Kirundo and Muyinga Provinces of Burundi on Tuesday jointly visited the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project’s to see the progress of the works set to complete this year 2022.

The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project was launched on the 30^th, March, 2017 with an installed capacity of 80 MW (Run of River Scheme at 1320masl) that will be shared equally among Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.

The transmission lines will extend from the power generation plant to Gitega in Burundi, Kigali in Rwanda, and Nyakanazi in Tanzania.

This project will develop renewable hydroelectric power as part of a broader program to support sustainable management of the Kagera River Basin and promote growth and poverty reduction.

The project upon completion will facilitate increased economic activities, private sector development, and investments in social infrastructure and services through improved access to electricity.

The project is worth US$340Million and US$128Million that have advanced to the countries as a loan from the World Bank and African Development Bank for the implementation of the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric project and the Power transmission lines respectively.

The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFP) is a hydropower project under joint development by the Governments of Republic of Burundi, Republic of Rwanda and United Republic of Tanzania through a commonly owned Rusumo Power Company (RPCL).

National

Uganda Spy Chief Gen. Kandiho Fired, Sent To Juba

Published

15 hours ago

January 25, 2022

Staff Writer

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has summarily fired his spy chief Maj.Gen Abel Kandiho and sent him to neighbouring South Sudan as Uganda’s envoy. Maj. Gen.James Burungi has been appointed to the helm of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) .

Discussions between President Paul Kagame and Lt.Gen. Muhoozi Keinerugaba could have led to Kandiho’s exit from the prestigious powerful spy chief docket in Uganda.

Kandiho has featured in various reports linking him presiding over the arbitrary arrest, torture and cruel treatment of Rwandans on Uganda soil and most of whom have died, suffered gross injuries and gradually dumped at the border.

The good old days when Kigali and Kampala enjoyed warm sisterly relations completely ended during the burgeoning reign of Kandiho that had catapulted the chieftaincy of military intelligence (CMI) into a much feared intelligence agency openly supporting the Rwandan enemies especially Rwanda National Congress, the FDLR and other insignificant Rwanda enemy cells in Uganda.

Kandiho’s departure reflects what President Kagame may have candidly presented to Gen. Muhoozi has Rwanda’s concerns to Kampala establishment.

However, an individuals departure from the helm of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) may not be enough for Kigali as proof of improved relations because the shuffling at CMI has been regular yet the sufferings of Rwandans in Uganda has not subsided.

Uganda Spy Chief Kandiho Secretly Meets Kayumba Nyamwasa

National

Kagame Officially Opens African Air Chiefs Symposium

Published

15 hours ago

January 25, 2022

Staff Writer

The 11th annual African Air Chiefs Symposium (AACS) has officially kicked off in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.

President Paul Kagame arrived at Kigali Convention Centre to officiate the opening ceremony. Rwanda is hosting the AACS symposium in partnership with the US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces in Africa.

Organisers say the symposium will run from 24 to 28 January.

This symposium aims at creating a forum for Air Chiefs from across the African continent to come together to address regional and continental issues, enhance relationship and increase cooperation among African Air Forces.

The main function of the Association of African Air forces is to assemble and advocate for partnerships between Air forces on the continent.

The AACS operates with the support of the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces in Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA).

The annual African Air Chief Symposium enables the networking and liaison between Air forces in achieving the objectives of the Association.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Association of African Air Forces has been very instrumental in providing a forum for members to multilaterally discuss common security challenges, the Rwandan Ministry of Defence stated.

Air Forces Africa hopes a conference with 30 partner nations will shrink the distance by building trust to work together in areas such as shared airlift.

The last two in-person events were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event is taking place under heavy COVID restrictions because in a continent plagued by terrorist threats and widely divergent capabilities, relationships matter.