Jeannette Kagame urges greater investment in women entrepreneurs at global finance summit

By The Inspirer Staff Writer

First Lady Jeannette Kagame has on May 28, 2025, called for increased investment in women entrepreneurs, describing it as a “wise and transformative choice” for national development. She made the remarks on Wednesday during the Annual Summit of the Financial Alliance for Women, held at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The high-level event brought together policymakers, financial regulators, investors, and women-led business leaders from around the world to discuss inclusive finance and strategies to close the gender gap in financial access.

“This summit is a step in the right direction,” said Mrs. Kagame. “Yes, for us, investing in entrepreneurs — especially women — is the right choice.”

The summit is organized in partnership with the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) and Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR), as part of efforts to promote inclusive financial ecosystems that empower women and small businesses.

Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, Soraya Hakuziyaremye, highlighted the country’s progress in expanding access to finance. She cited recent data from the 2024 FinScope Gender and Financial Inclusion Survey, showing that financial inclusion among Rwandan women rose to 96% in 2024, up from 92% in 2020.

Despite this progress, the report revealed persistent gaps. Only 17% of women have bank accounts compared to 27% of men, limiting access to formal financial services. However, mobile money usage among women increased significantly — from 55% in 2020 to 73% in 2024.

Conducted in March 2025 by AFR in collaboration with the Ministries of Finance and Gender, and the National Bank of Rwanda, the study also showed the gender gap in access to registered financial institutions decreased from 7% in 2020 to 4% in 2025.

Participants at the summit discussed ways to promote female-led enterprises, design gender-responsive financial products, and strengthen women’s financial literacy and economic resilience.

The Financial Alliance for Women Summit continues through the week, with key sessions focusing on digital finance, inclusive investment, and cross-sector partnerships.