The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL), Christine Ansong, has commended Rwanda’s bold approach to integrating education, research, and industry after a visit to the Kigali Innovation City.

Ms. Ansong paid a courtesy visit to the facility on October 14, 2025, where she was welcomed by the Chief Executive Officer, Craig Clulow.

Mr. Clulow led her on a tour of the sprawling innovation hub, parts of which are still under construction.

The Kigali Innovation City is being developed as a fully integrated community designed to house universities, research institutions, technology companies, and residential areas.

Once completed, the project will include student accommodation with an estimated 5,000-bed capacity and a range of social amenities such as supermarkets and recreation spaces.

Situated near Rwanda’s Free Zone Area, the Innovation City aims to link academic research with industry and technology-driven entrepreneurship.

Two leading academic institutions—the University of Rwanda’s Biomedical Engineering Faculty and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Africa—have been strategically located within the ecosystem to facilitate research collaboration and industry partnerships.

The project also benefits from the proximity of a vaccine manufacturing company within the Free Zone, expected to draw on student-led innovation and applied research.

Notably, both CMU Africa and the African Leadership University offer tuition-free education to African students, reinforcing the city’s vision of inclusive development through knowledge and innovation.

Ms. Ansong noted that the Kigali Innovation City model provides a strong blueprint for integrating education, research, and enterprise into Ghana’s growing digital ecosystem.

“It’s an inspiring example of how to build an innovation-led economy where universities and industries work hand in hand to solve real-world problems,” she observed.

Her visit, which comes amid Ghana’s renewed focus on expanding its digital and innovation infrastructure, reflects GDCL’s commitment to learning from successful ecosystems across Africa and adapting best practices to strengthen Ghana’s technology landscape.