Kigali — The National University of Rwanda (NUR) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rwanda Information and Technology Authority (RITA) to increase ICT access in rural areas.

The deal was signed last Wednesday between RITA's Nkubito Bakuramutsa and NUR's Rector, Silas Lwakabamba, at the university premises in Butare.

The cooperation between the two institutions seeks to translate Rwanda's stated ambition of becoming a regional ICT hub into a reality.

While signing the deal Nkubito Bakuramutsa said that NUR was crucial to attaining the ICT promise.

He commended the university for its concerted efforts in building a strong human resource base in the Information and Communication Technology industry.

"We strongly acknowledge the critical role which UNR plays in providing a skilful human resource-base in the ICT industry.

The partnership with UNR is an essential boost to our mission of creating a knowledge-based economy," he said.

Lwakabamba welcomed the initiative as necessary in fulfilling government's commitment to deliver on the promise of a knowledge based economy:

"A human-resource base is the basis of any undertaking, and a formidable foundation for sustainable development in any economy. This is a key pillar in realisation of the Vision 2020."

He further stressed that it is fitting for an ICT authority like RITA, to support academic institutions as an effective way for nurturing and building a productive human resource base.

Rwanda has been at the forefront of promoting ICT use in the economy among regional countries. It remains the only country in the EAC with a formulated ICT policy and is among the only eight that have started the One LapTop per Child policy that is part of the UN millennium challenge programmes.

A press release from RITA states that "the partnership between RITA and NUR will subsequently ensure a successful implementation of the National Information and Communication Infrastructure Plan (NICI)."