In the hustle and bustle of politics and policymaking, it is often easy for government officials to overlook their personal life. This is, however, not the case for Ildephonse Musafiri, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources. At 44, Musafiri is not only a dedicated politician but also a proud family man who cherishes the time spent with his two children and wife. The youthful minister is a firm advocate for work-life balance. Speaking to The New Times in an exclusive interview on August 29, Musafiri said he’s one of the people who always advocated for working hours that allow parents more time to be present in their children’s lives, especially in the mornings. Effective the New Year this year, the government adjusted the official schooling and working hours, introducing a 'flexible' hour in the workplace, as a way of allowing parents to find time to drop their children to school and to improve parenting experience. Classes now open at 8:30a.m from 7a.mpreviously, while official working begin at 8a.m with employees having the option of working remotely in the first hour. I think it's imperative to find time to bond and have great moments with our children, to be present in their lives. Whether it is to get them to sleep at night or prepare them for school in the morning, all the little moments matter, Musafiri said. “The best parenthood technique is to lead by example, but how will they learn from you if they don't see you. An ardent football fan, Musafiri also finds time to take care of his physical fitness through playing tennis and jogging. Musafiri, who studied agricultural economics, is one of the government officials who have made the transition from theatre halls to politics. His academic background is nothing short of impressive. He earned his Bachelor's degree in development economics from the former National University of Rwanda in 2004, before obtaining a Master's degree in Applied Economics from the same institution. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, he obtained a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn in Germany eight years ago and an M.Sc. in Applied Economics from the University of Rwanda. His time at President’s Office and working directly under Kagame Prior to joining the Cabinet, first as Minister of State for Agriculture in July last year before he was elevated to full Minister in the same ministry, Musafiri served in the Office of the President as Executive Director of the Strategy and Policy Council. During the interview, he reflected on his transition from academia to politics and his six years at the helm of SPC and working directly under the President. “The (switch from academia) is challenging because you are coming from theory to putting theory into practice, but you adapt,” he said. Asked to elaborate on his post on X (formerly twitter) when he was first appointed to the Cabinet last year – which read, “Honoured to inform you that I have graduated from the @PaulKagame Institute of Economic, Social, Political, Institutional, Behavioural, Cultural & Patriotic Sciences. Thank you, Excellency, for the opportunity to lead your Strategy & Policy Council for the past 6 years”, Musafiri outlined a long list of lessons he learnt working under the President, including emotional intelligence, agility, authentic communication, and prioritising wellness. The “graduation”, he said, spoke to his personal journey of learning from the President's exemplary leadership. He described Kagame as a “once in a generation or generations” kind of leader who will be hard to replace, urging the youth to make the most of the “President’s leadership and unmatched service.” An academic-turned politician, Musafiri brings a unique perspective to his Cabinet role. “I take it as an opportunity to apply all the theories, and finally see which ones work or not.” Between 2018 and July 2022, he also served as a Board Director of the National Bank of Rwanda. Musafiri remains closely tied to the University of Rwanda's College of Business and Economics, where he served as a lecturer and head of the economics department before moving to the Office of the President. Despite his demanding schedule, he continues to contribute his expertise as an honorary senior lecturer. Musafiri has also previously conducted research focusing on development economics and policy, poverty and inequality analysis, economic growth, agricultural and food policy, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Earlier in his career, he worked as a community capacity-strengthening officer for World Vision Rwanda. These experiences have helped hone his holistic understanding of complex socio-economic issues and their impact on vulnerable communities. Aside from Kinyarwanda, he’s fluent in English and French, and possesses a working knowledge of German. The full interview is due to be published Tuesday, September 5.
