Leadership

Our Founders

H.E Paul Kagame

President of the Republic of Rwanda

H.E Paul Kagame

President of the Republic of Rwanda

H.E. Paul Kagame has been a transformative leader of Rwanda, turning the nation into a model of stability, economic growth, and technological advancement. Under his leadership, Rwanda has achieved inclusive growth and sustainable development, becoming one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. A cornerstone of Rwanda’s social transformation has been the implementation of homegrown solutions—innovative approaches tailored to the nation’s unique challenges and opportunities—which have fostered resilience and self-reliance.

H.E Hailemariam Desalegn

Former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

H.E Hailemariam Desalegn

Former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn has made a profound contribution to governance and leadership in Africa, particularly during his tenure as Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018. Under his leadership, Ethiopia underwent major economic reforms and emerged as one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies. His governance was marked by a focus on stability, sustainable development, and regional integration, while his leadership in conflict resolution—especially in the Horn of Africa—established him as a respected mediator and statesman.

The Governing Board

Mr. Makhtar Diop

Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and former Minister of Finance and Economy of Senegal.

Dr. Donald Kaberuka

Former President of the African Development Bank.

Professor Hajer Gueldich

Former Professor at the University of Carthage & Legal Counsel of the African Union.

Mr. Kishore Mahbubani

Former Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Mr. Francis Gatare

President of ASG

Mr. Francis Gatare

President of ASG

Mr. Francis Gatare is the President of the Africa School of Governance. He has played a prominent role in Rwanda's policy and governance landscape, including within the Office of the President where he served as Chief Economist, Deputy Head of Policy and Strategy, and Senior Economic Advisor. He has led national institutions as Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), overseeing important reforms in investment promotion, private-sector development, and the modernisation of the natural resources sector. He has also served as Director General of the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency and Country Office Economist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mr. Gatare holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Makerere University and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Windsor. He was a Mason Fellow at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

ASG Executive Team

Mr. Francis Gatare

President of ASG

Mr. Francis Gatare

President of ASG

Prof. Amany Elsharif

Vice President, Academic Affairs

Prof. Amany Elsharif

Vice President, Academic Affairs

Prof. Amany El-Sharif is the Vice-President for Academic Affairs at the Africa School of Governance. A distinguished academic leader with over 15 years of experience in higher education, governance, and policy development across Africa, she has served as Vice-President of the Pan African University and Regional Director for North Africa at the AAU. Formerly Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Al-Azhar University, she designed internationally competitive academic programs and launched initiatives including a university ranking office and an indexed scientific international open-access journal. Her leadership extends to continental platforms, including the African Union and the European Union HAQAA project, and she has championed Pan- African history education and quality assurance. Prof. El-Sharif holds a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and completed academic leadership training under DAAD-Oldenburg University and business programs via the American Chamber of Commerce. She actively serves on several African development boards and advisory groups, including the WHO. Her Pan-African vision and academic excellence position her as a driving force for transformative governance education.

Mr. Mark Nkurunziza

Vice President, Finance and Operations

Mr. Mark Nkurunziza

Vice President, Finance and Operations

Mark Nkurunziza brings over 25 years of financial leadership experience to ASG. He has held key roles at MTN Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board, and Rwandair, excelling in financial management, strategic planning, and operational efficiency to advance impactful and sustainable development initiatives. Mark is a chartered accountant and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He holds an MBA in finance from the Maastricht School of Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology.

Dr. Jane Adhiambo Chiroma

Director of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor

Dr. Jane Adhiambo Chiroma

Director of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor

Dr. Jane Adhiambo Chiroma is a scholar and academic leader with extensive experience in quality assurance, curriculum development, digital education, and educational technology. She holds a PhD in Education Policy and a Master’s in Curriculum Development from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Jos ECWA Theological Seminary in Nigeria. Dr. Chiroma’s work bridges academic excellence and innovation, advancing educational practices that enhance learning outcomes and institutional quality across Africa.

Ms. Ngozichukwu C. Njemanze

Programme Director for the Executive Master of Leadership & Governance

Ms. Ngozichukwu C. Njemanze

Programme Director for the Executive Master of Leadership & Governance

Ms. Ngozichukwu C. Njemanze is the Programme Director for the Executive Master of Leadership & Governance at the Africa School of Governance. A Certified Governance Auditor, Bank Examiner, and Chartered Secretary and Administrator, she brings a distinguished career in governance, strategy, and institutional leadership to this role. A recognized corporate governance thought leader, she previously served as Principal Manager in the Financial System Stability Directorate of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where she played a key role in strengthening financial oversight and regulatory frameworks. Before joining ASG, Ms. Njemanze worked for five years with the World Bank Group's Legal Vice-Presidency in Washington, D.C., as a Legal Associate, contributing to international development law and governance initiatives. She holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, an MBA from the Kogod School of Business at American University (Washington, D.C.), and an LL.B. (Second Class Upper Honours) from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Aissatou Diajhate

Director of External Affairs

Aissatou Diajhate

Director of External Affairs

Ms. Aissatou Diajhate is the Director of External Relations at the Africa School of Governance. She brings a wealth of experience in institutional partnerships, philanthropy, and student engagement to her leadership at ASG, overseeing strategic initiatives to strengthen the institution's external relations and streamline the admissions process for ASG's inaugural student cohorts. Before joining ASG, Ms. Diajhate served as Chief of Staff and Advisor to the President & CEO of the Mastercard Foundation in Toronto, Canada. She also served as Country Representative for the Foundation in Ghana, Director of Programs at the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and Director of Admissions at Suffolk University's inaugural African campus headquarters in Dakar, Senegal. She holds a Master of Development Administration (MDA) from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal.

Dr. Momar Dieng

Director of Executive Education

Dr. Momar Dieng

Director of Executive Education

Dr. Momar Dieng is the Director of Executive Education at the Africa School of Governance. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of executive education, public policy, and digital innovation, Dr. Dieng is a highly respected leader in building transformative programs for African and global institutions. He has served as Dean of the School of Business at African Leadership University and Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer at AIMS-NEI, leading cutting-edge academic and executive education initiatives focused on AI, data science, and policy leadership. His past work also includes key advisory roles with the World Bank, supporting the digital transformation of education systems in 12 African countries, and strategic leadership in Senegal's Ministry of Education. A former Quantitative Methods instructor at Harvard Kennedy School, he also founded Africa Web Services, a digital consultancy developing innovative tools for education, governance, and business. His expertise spans digital policy, education reform, and advanced analytics, and he continues to shape policy and practice through curriculum design, impact evaluation, and government advisory.

Our Founders

The Governing Board

Mr. Makhtar Diop

Dr. Donald Kaberuka

Professor Hajer Gueldich

Mr. Kishore Mahbubani

ASG Executive Team

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