GGGI Director General Joins Rwanda’s 20th Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony

By The Inspirer.

Kigali, Rwanda – September 4, 2025. The Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Sang-Hyup Kim, has arrived in Rwanda for a four-day mission where he will participate in the 20th anniversary of Kwita Izina, the country’s globally recognized Gorilla Naming Ceremony.

Kim, who assumed office in January 2025, is making his first official visit to Africa. He will serve as one of the distinguished baby gorilla namers at the event on September 5 in Kinigi, Musanze District, at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park.

This year, 40 baby gorillas will be named, including 18 born in 2024.

“Kwita Izina is more than a celebration—it is a living symbol of Rwanda’s dedication to community-led conservation, sustainable landscapes, and ecotourism,” Kim said ahead of the ceremony.

“As GGGI, we recognize that true green growth happens when conservation, community empowerment, and economic opportunity come together. I am deeply honored to join this milestone event and witness firsthand the incredible work being done to protect mountain gorillas and their habitat.” he added.

Launched in 2006, Kwita Izina has become one of Africa’s most prominent conservation and sustainable tourism events, drawing global leaders, conservationists, and thousands of participants each year.

Past namers have included King Charles III, Sir David Attenborough, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, and UK Minister of State Andrew Mitchell, among others. To date, 397 baby gorillas have been named through the annual ceremony.

The 2025 theme, “A legacy of community-centered conservation, securing a sustainable future for all,” underscores the role of local communities, rangers, and researchers in safeguarding Rwanda’s biodiversity.

During his mission, Kim will also attend the High-Level Conservation Gala in Kigali, where the Government of Rwanda will officially launch the long-anticipated Volcanoes National Park expansion project.

The park will be enlarged by 3,740 hectares—a 23 percent increase—aimed at creating more habitat for the endangered mountain gorilla.

GGGI is exploring avenues to support the initiative, following its previous work with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) on the park’s masterplan.

In addition to the ceremonies, Kim is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior government officials and development partners to strengthen cooperation and explore new opportunities for advancing Rwanda’s green growth and climate resilience agenda.

Through its Sustainable Landscapes program, GGGI supports countries to design policies, mobilize financing such as green bonds and debt-for-nature swaps, and attract investments that protect ecosystems while unlocking economic opportunities.

Kim emphasized that GGGI remains committed to working with Rwanda and other African nations in promoting sustainable development, climate action, and biodiversity conservation.

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com