Rwandan Muhawenimana wins continental award for advancing rural investment

By The Inspirer.

Abed Cherif Muhawenimana from Karongi District in Western Province has won a continental award in recognition of his contribution to promoting rural development.

The accolade is part of the Africa Outstanding Professionals Awards (AfROPA), which recognize professionals who have made a significant impact on Africa’s development.

The awards are organized by The Business Executive Group, a Ghana-based institution, and have been held since 2022.

The latest edition took place in Kigali on March 12, 2026, marking the fifth ceremony. Previous editions have been hosted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Rwanda.

Speaking to IGIHE, Muhawenimana said his recognition in rural development is linked to the work of the institution he leads, which focuses on supporting communities, especially those living around Lake Kivu, through savings mobilization and access to loans for agriculture and livestock.

He explained that their rural focus is rooted in their history as a farmers’ cooperative, noting that farmers and livestock keepers often struggle to access financial services compared to traders.

“Financial institutions tend to approach traders and offer them loans, but rarely reach out to farmers in their fields or pastures,” he said.

Muhawenimana is the Chief Executive Officer of Inkunga Finance Plc, a financial institution that began in 1995 as a farmers’ savings group.

The institution now operates 12 branches, including five major ones, and serves more than 41,000 clients, with about 6,000 active borrowers.

He noted that the institution has disbursed over Rwf 10 billion in loans, largely to rural residents, adding that some of their earliest clients have progressed from having no experience with financial institutions to importing goods from China.

Other award recipients this year include Nyambi Ceesay from The Gambia, recognized for excellence in construction; Gallo Saidy, also from The Gambia, awarded for excellence in water and energy management; and Donald Molosi from Botswana, honored for his contribution to cultural diplomacy.