Kingsley Moghalu named inaugural President of African School of Governance

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Kingsley Moghalu, has been appointed as the inaugural President of the African School of Governance (ASG), based in Kigali, Rwanda.

His appointment, which took effect on October 1, 2024, followed a global competitive search aimed at finding a visionary leader for the newly established institution.

ASG, co-founded by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, seeks to address Africa’s governance challenges by providing world-class education in public policy and governance. Supported by the Mastercard Foundation, ASG aims to equip emerging African leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective leadership across the continent.

Professor Moghalu, a globally recognized expert in public policy, has a distinguished career that spans 17 years in senior roles within the United Nations and extensive academic contributions at institutions such as Harvard and Oxford. His appointment is seen as a major step toward fulfilling ASG’s ambitious goals of transforming governance in Africa.

The ASG Governing Board, chaired by Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), praised Moghalu’s leadership qualities and extensive experience in governance and public policy. Diop expressed confidence in Moghalu’s ability to guide the institution towards its mission of shaping Africa’s future leadership.

‘’His sterling track record of leadership in international and national policymaking institutions, academia, and his thought leadership influence, will help make ASG a transformative graduate school and develop a new generation of purpose-driven leaders with the skills and mindsets to help Africa address the challenges of the 21st Century.

“The establishment of ASG is a powerful expression of a clear vision on the part of the founding leaders.”

On his appointment, Prof. Moghalu said: “I share this vision of a transformed Africa driven by competent leadership and governance, and I am honored to have been tasked with leading ASG’s critical contribution to making that vision a reality.”

ASG will offer a comprehensive suite of academic, research and policy engagement programmes, designed to meet the governance, leadership and policy deficits across Africa.

These include the Master of Public Administration, MPA, and the Executive Master of Public Administration, EMPA, programs, and Executive Courses of 2-3 weeks duration aimed at enhancing specific leadership skills for professionals.

Additionally, there will be the Young Leaders Programme, YLP, and the Senior Leadership Fellowship, SLF, for high-potential undergraduates and seasoned professionals nearing the end of their careers, ensuring that ASG supports leadership development at every stage.

It will also establish four dedicated research centers, namely Center for Home-Grown Innovations in African Governance; Center for African History and Leadership; Center for Trade and Regional Integration; and the Center for Technology in Governance.