Rwanda President, Paul Kagame has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in public policy and management by South Korea’s prestigious Yonsei University during a ceremony held on Wednesday, June 5, in Seoul, South Korea. The recognition was bestowed upon Kagame amid the Korea-Africa Summit, a gathering attended by delegations from African nations and notable figures from Korean and international business communities to explore avenues of cooperation.
An honorary degree, which exempts recipients from the standard academic requirements, serves as a tribute to individuals for their outstanding contributions to a specific field or society at large.
Expressing gratitude for the esteemed recognition, Kagame remarked, “I would like to thank you for the tremendous honour you have bestowed on me and my country with the award of this honorary doctorate.” Reflecting on his visit to the Yonsei campus, Kagame expressed regret that their connection had not commenced earlier, underscoring the significance of the occasion.
Yonsei University, established in 1885, stands as a premier private institution of higher education, ranking among the top three universities in Korea and housing 178 research centres.
Acknowledging the university’s global standing, Kagame conveyed his pride in Rwanda’s association with Yonsei, stating, “Yonsei clearly ranks among the world’s finest universities, and I am very proud for Rwanda to be associated with your institution.”
During the Korea-Africa Summit, Kagame emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between Africa and Korea in advancing fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, energy transition, and nuclear technology. Highlighting the mutually beneficial relationship between the two regions, Kagame underscored the pivotal roles played by Korea and Africa in the global landscape.
“Korea and Africa have been relating together positively and productively,” Kagame remarked, stressing the natural alignment between Korea’s status as a global pivotal state and Africa’s significance as a pivotal continent.
Drawing attention to the strides made in innovation through partnerships with Korea, Kagame emphasized the potential for further collaboration, particularly in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive development in Africa.
“This Summit serves to remind us that even more can be done. From artificial intelligence and robotics, to small modular nuclear reactors, to driving the energy transition with critical raw materials, Africa and Korea should be working side-by-side,” Kagame asserted, underscoring the need for sustained cooperation to address shared challenges and opportunities.
