NEA Director-General William Magwood, IV with high-level guests at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa, opened by H. E. President of Rwanda Paul Kagame
As part of ongoing engagement with African governments exploring the introduction of nuclear power into their energy mix, NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV visited Rwanda on 18-19 May 2026 to participate in high-level discussions on the role of nuclear energy in supporting energy security, advancing environmental objectives and fostering economic development across the continent.
During his visit to Kigali, Director-General Magwood took part in the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026) where he joined a high-level panel on financing Africa’s nuclear energy future. In his remarks, he emphasised the importance of international co-operation in enabling countries to embark on nuclear power programmes. Strong leadership, credible delivery frameworks and effective risk allocation were also highlighted as key conditions to attract and sustain investment in nuclear new build projects.
The summit was opened by H. E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and convened government leaders, policymakers, regulators, as well as representatives from financial institutions and the industry from across Africa and beyond. Discussions focused on identifying practical pathways to deploy nuclear energy in support of the continent’s growing energy needs and long-term development goals.
Director-General Magwood speaks at the high-level leadership dialogue on financing nuclear energy projects in Africa
In addition to his participation in NEISA, the Director-General delivered a lecture entitled “The Next Nuclear Energy Era: Opportunities and Challenges” at the University of Rwanda, engaging with more than 100 students and academic staff. His presentation explored the evolving global nuclear landscape, the potential of advanced technologies and the importance of building the skills and institutional capacity required to support nuclear programmes.
Lecture at the University of Rwanda
The mission also included bilateral meetings with counterparts from Rwanda and other countries, including Charles Karakye, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education of Rwanda, focusing on collaboration in areas such as human capacity development and education.
Meeting with Charles Karakye, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education of Rwanda
Supporting Africa’s nuclear energy ambitions
The NEA is actively strengthening its engagement with African countries that have decided to pursue development of nuclear energy programmes. Through initiatives such as the Common Journey, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2026 with the African Union (AU) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), the Agency is supporting countries embarking on nuclear energy programmes by facilitating access to international expertise, fostering peer learning and promoting best practices in nuclear safety, regulation and governance.
This work builds on the NEA’s broader efforts to provide a platform for dialogue between experienced and newcomer countries, helping to ensure that nuclear energy is developed safely, securely and sustainably.
Photos: Rwanda Atomic Energy Board
