Rwanda’s ambition to transform into Africa’s leading financial hub took centre stage at the Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA) 2025 where the CEO of Rwanda Finance Limited Nick Barigye outlined Rwanda’s vision to become a globally competitive International Financial Centre.
The ACOA, which brought together distinguished finance professionals, industry leaders, innovators and visionaries from across the globe, was held at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda from May 6th to 9th.
The bi-annual event was hosted by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) in partnership with the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA). Addressing over 2000 high profile delegates, Barigye emphasized that Rwanda’s vision is underpinned by its sharp focus on human capital development.
In his keynote address that positioned Rwanda not just as a participant in Africa’s financial future, but as a driving force, Barigye said: “Our vision is clear: to position Rwanda as the preferred International Financial Centre in Africa. But it’s not just about buildings or infrastructure — it’s about people. The key ingredient of every thriving financial hub is its talent: accountants, lawyers, tax experts, fintech innovators.”
His delivery was titled “Building Africa’s Financial Talent for Global Competitiveness: The Case of Rwanda as a Rising Financial Hub.”
Barigye underscored that while Africa is home to a dynamic and youthful population, its financial systems still struggle with limited access to long-term, patient capital — a gap that International Financial Centres such as the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC) are uniquely positioned to bridge.
The KIFC is a financial centre that is transforming Rwanda into an international financial destination for investors seeking opportunities across the African continent.
Barigye announced a landmark partnership between KIFC and the Jersey International Financial Centre. This collaboration will offer immersive, two-year training programs to young Rwandan professionals, preparing them for careers as CFOs, tax advisors, and fund managers.
Rwanda is also embracing digital transformation. Barigye highlighted the launch of the Rwanda Artificial Intelligence Centre — a pan-African platform focused on responsible AI — as a signal of Rwanda’s intent to integrate AI, cybersecurity, and digital finance into its financial systems.
While proud of Rwanda’s progress, Barigye called for a pan-African approach to building financial ecosystems. He urged countries to harmonize regulations, recognize each other’s qualifications, and allow seamless cross-border professional mobility.
“Let’s imagine an Africa where a professional trained in Kigali can seamlessly work in Nairobi, Accra, or Johannesburg — and vice versa. That’s the Africa we must build,” Barigye said.
Under the theme, Creating Value for Africa, organisers of the congress believe it offers a platform to reframe the role of accountants from traditional compliance roles to agents of economic transformation and public accountability on the continent.
Obadiah R. Biraro, President of ICPAR, maintained that the theme of ACOA 2025 Creating Value for Africa reflects the continent’s shared commitment to building a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking profession that contributes meaningfully to Africa’s sustainable development.
“We look forward to hosting you in Kigali as we engage, collaborate, and inspire one another to drive Africa’s transformation through professional excellence,” Biraro said.
This also means weakened investor confidence, and gaps in citizen trust in financial firms, leading to limited public service delivery.