RISA CEO Antoine Sebera recently participated in the 80^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), representing Rwanda on the global stage and advocating for inclusive, trusted, and contextualized digital innovation.

On the sidelines of UNGA80, Mr. Sebera engaged with key global leaders at the Women Political Leaders (WPL) Future Positive Reception. He met with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General; Robin Washington, President and COO at Salesforce; Mehrin Skoch, President and Founder of WPL; and Neema Lugangira, Secretary General at WPL Leaders Organization. These exchanges highlighted Rwanda’s leadership in AI governance and its support for empowering African female political leaders with the knowledge and tools needed for informed decision-making in digital policy.

Additionally, Mr. Sebera held a bilateral meeting with Kevin Mills, Head of Education and Government at OpenAI, to explore opportunities for collaboration in AI skilling, education, and data sovereignty. The discussion underscored Rwanda’s continued commitment to harnessing technology for sustainable and equitable development.

At the high-level Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Dialogue, Mr. Sebera showcased Rwanda’s journey as an early adopter of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) safeguards. He shared the country’s experiences with digital ID registration, eKash instant payments, and secure data exchange, explaining how RISA’s Center for DPI, in partnership with UNDP, is working to build trusted and inclusive systems that deliver government services efficiently and equitably.

Member States at the DCO Dialogue adopted a Joint Statement calling for urgent global cooperation to ensure that digital transformation drives resilience, prosperity, and peace, rather than exclusion. In his remarks, Mr. Sebera emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating: “We must collaborate effectively, we have nothing to lose. Let’s not be hostile toward investment in Africa, but instead set smart regulations to ensure Africans are not exploited.”

Through these engagements and discussions, RISA’s CEO strengthened Rwanda’s visibility as a leader in digital governance, advocated for equitable AI adoption, and promoted partnerships that support inclusive innovation. Participation at UNGA80 provided a valuable platform to highlight Rwanda’s strategic investments in digital skills, data sovereignty, and AI governance, reaffirming the country’s vision of building a digitally empowered and inclusive society.