Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, has called on young girls to embrace ambition and confidence, urging them to view sport not just as a game, but as a gateway to leadership and empowerment.
Speaking on Friday to a crowd of schoolgirls gathered in Kayonza District, Eastern Province, Mukazayire encouraged attendees to dream boldly and see themselves as future leaders—not despite their gender, but because of their potential.
“Believe in yourself,” she told the group. “Know that you are unique, and that uniqueness is a gift that can lead to something great.”
The visit was part of BAL4HER, an initiative spearheaded by the Basketball Africa League (BAL) to promote gender equity in sport. The programme aims to increase girls’ participation in athletics, while also providing mentorship and leadership training. BAL4HER is seen as a key step in challenging entrenched stereotypes and expanding opportunities for young women in a sector traditionally dominated by men.
Mukazayire, who was joined by NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, used her own story to underscore what is possible. “This morning, as I looked at your young faces, I remembered sitting in the same place years ago,” she said. “Today, I am Rwanda’s Minister of Sports. Not abroad—right here in our country.”
The minister stressed that confidence, commitment, and persistence are the cornerstones of any successful journey. Her message resonated deeply in a country that has made notable strides in gender representation—Rwanda’s parliament boasts a majority of female MPs—but where cultural and institutional barriers remain, particularly in sport. 
The BAL4HER initiative seeks to address these gaps, offering a platform for girls not only to participate in basketball tournaments but also to engage in discussions with leaders and role models from across the continent. It represents a broader vision for the future of African sport: inclusive, empowering, and driven by talent rather than tradition.
For many of the girls in attendance, Mukazayire’s speech was more than a motivational moment—it was a call to action.
As one participant put it, “She made us feel like we belong in those leadership roles—that it’s not just for others, but for us too.”
