Didier Nkurikiyimfura

Didier Nkurikiyimfura is the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer of Smart Africa Secretariat, a pan-African organization mandated by African Heads of State and Government to create a single digital market for Africa. In his current role, He leads the organizational strategy, partnership development, resource mobilization, projects operationalization and scale-up.

Aside his official Smart Africa duties, Didier currently serves in as Chairman of the board of Directors of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (www.rcaa.gov.rw) as well as Irembo Ltd (www.irembo.gov.rw), a Rwandan company that has deployed over 120 Government-to-Business and Government-to-Citizens eservices through a single portal since 2015. He also serves as a board member of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (www.rba.co.rw).

Prior to his Strategy and Growth role. Didier was the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, leading a team in charge of policy and regulatory harmonization, programme and project management and Operations. He led the implementation of several cross-border tech projects in Africa, such as the intra-African cross-border fiber connectivity, increasing Africa’s Internet affordability and accessibility, regional Data Centers, Smart Cities, African entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems strengthening, interoperable pan-African Digital ID and the Smart Africa scholarship fund among others, with the ultimate goal of contributing to Africa’s economic growth and job creation.

Prior to joining Smart Africa, Didier served as Director General in charge of ICT at the Ministry of Youth and ICT of the Government of Rwanda from 2012 to 2016, Head of ICT Security at the Rwanda Development Board, Director of the National Computing Center (NCC) and Director of the National Data Center (NDC) at the Rwanda Information Technology Authority.

Didier has more than 19 years of experience in the ICT Sector. A national of Rwanda, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science Degree in Software Engineering.