The Columbia University Club Foundation Ambassador Series: 25th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Apologies. This event is sole out. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Please join the Columbia University Club Foundation Trustees and members of the United Nations Association of New York, the Penn Club of New York, and the Columbia University Club of New York for a presentation by Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations and the Right Honorable Ngoga K. Martin, Speaker, East African Legislative Assembly.
This moment provides an important opportunity to honor the memory of the more than one million victims of the 1994 genocide, to preserve its evidence and offer education about its history as well as lessons learned in the aftermath.
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. | Registration
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Presentation with Q+A
7:30 to 8:00 p.m. | Reception
Biographies
Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza has worked for more than twenty five years on African and global development issues in both corporate and public sector; as a senior Diplomat, national and international public servant and corporate manager in national, regional and multilateral organizations.
In October 2016, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza was appointed the Rwandan Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Prior to this, she was the Minister in the Ministry of East African Community from July 2014 to October 2016. She also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board and Member of Cabinet from October 2013 to July 2014.
Between 2005 and 2013, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza served as the Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Prior to joining the WTO, she served as Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UNOG and all specialized agencies based in Geneva as well as Rwandan Ambassador to Switzerland.
Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza is a founding member of Imbuto Foundation, the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, the Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs’ Organisation and the Rwandese Women Leaders’ Caucus. Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza is married to Mr. John Sendanyoye.
The Right Honorable Ngoga K. Martin, was elected the 5th Speaker of the 4th East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on December 19th 2017. His tenure as Speaker runs for a period of five years, and presides over the Assembly and directs its activities. As Speaker he opens, suspends and closes the sittings of the Assembly in addition to ensuring observance of the rules of procedure that govern the House. He was first elected as a Member of the 3rd EALA in 2015. As a Member of the 3rd EALA, he served on the EALA Commission and on two other Committees; the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution and the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges. He was re-elected to the 4th EALA for a final term of five years and subsequently elected as Speaker.
Mr. Ngoga is a former Prosecutor General of the Republic of Rwanda, a position he held for seven years. His major achievements included directing and supervising all activities of the prosecution service in the Republic of Rwanda. Mr. Ngoga played a key contribution in implementing the national zero tolerance for Corruption policy, resulting in Rwanda emerging amongst the least corrupt countries on the Africa continent. Between 1999 and 2003, he was a Special Representative of the Government of Rwanda at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.
Mr. Ngoga previously enjoyed a long stint in public service, and was engaged in the international arena handling a number of special assignments and presenting a number of conference papers. In April 2017, he was elected Deputy Chairperson in the Ethics Committee (Investigatory Chamber) of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), a position he is expected to hold for four years. A football enthusiast, Mr. Ngoga previously also served as Vice President of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).
Rt. Hon. Ngoga is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association and the Africa Association of Prosecutors, holds a Master of Arts Degree in Genocide Studies (with distinction) from University of Rwanda and a Bachelor of Law (Honours) Degree from the University of Dar Es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania. He was born in Kagera region in the United Republic of Tanzania and he attended Ihungo School and Musoma High School respectively in his formative years.