He made the remarks on Wednesday while officially opening the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 taking place at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The international forum, running from March 10 to 12, 2026, has brought together more than 3,000 participants including government officials, leaders of financial institutions, technology companies and policymakers from across the world to discuss the future of financial technology and financial inclusion.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Dr. Nsengiyumva emphasized that Africa’s transformation will depend on building strong financial systems capable of mobilising capital toward the continent’s most urgent development priorities.

“The opportunity for Africa to become a cradle of global business and innovation is real. The foundation of this transformation will be robust and inclusive financial systems capable of mobilising capital towards the continent’s most pressing priorities, including energy, digital infrastructure, manufacturing and human capital development,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the forum comes at a crucial moment for both Africa and the global economy, as financial systems undergo rapid changes driven by technology.

He stressed that while significant progress has been made in expanding financial services, more work remains to ensure that these services are accessible, trusted and beneficial to everyone.

“Financial inclusion is not only about innovation; it is also about ensuring that financial services reach everyone, are trusted and that the resulting prosperity is shared by all,” he said.

Dr. Nsengiyumva highlighted Rwanda’s progress in financial inclusion, noting that 92 percent of adults in the country now have access to financial services, reflecting the steady growth of the country’s fintech ecosystem.

However, he emphasized that Rwanda’s next priority is to create an even more enabling environment for innovation and investment in the fintech sector.

“Today, 92 percent of adults in Rwanda have access to financial services, reflecting the steady growth of our fintech ecosystem. Our priority now is to create an even more enabling environment for innovation and investment,” he said.

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of Africa building financial sovereignty through systems it controls.

“Africa cannot and should not attempt to build financial sovereignty on rails it does not control,” he said.

According to him, continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and data governance frameworks developed by the African Union will be essential foundations for strengthening Africa’s financial independence.

The Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 aims to accelerate collaboration between governments, financial institutions and technology innovators to expand access to financial services and shape the future of digital finance across Africa and beyond.