By Elie Mutangana.
Project Management Institute (PMI) has celebrated 50 exceptional rising leaders, transforming the world by leveraging their project management skills to tackle today’s most pressing challenges where Celestin Nkeramihigo, a certified project manager emerged on the list.
As shown on the 2024 Future 50 list, Nkeramihigo is among 50 young leaders – all 35 and under who represent a diverse cohort of project professionals, reshaping the future across industries like healthcare, environmental science, technology, and social justice.
From addressing food insecurity to driving social justice and promoting sustainability, the Future 50 honourees are redefining what it means to manage truly impactful projects, according to Project Management Institute.
The 32 years old who currently works at Kepler College as Dean of Faculty expresses his heartfelt excitement upon the honour, and emphasises on his commitment to utilizing project management expertise for working toward common goals to build a better future.
“I’m happy to be named as one of the global 50innovative project professionals on PMI’S Future50 honourees! It inspires me to advance project management in Rwanda and East Africa, working Kepler College to educate tomorrow’s project management leaders”. Reads his X post.
According to him, although all organisations have projects, only few people know how to effectively manage them. For that, he is standing among champions for making project management accessible to wider audience in East Africa.
Besides, in the entire sub-Saharan Africa, Nkeramihigo honoured along with others from the region including Awa Bousso Dramé, Bernardo Martins, PMP, Bahati Innocent, PMP, Kevin Kwakye-Safo, PMP, PMI-ACP, Marco Carlos and Prosperidade Sunguete.
“Having honourees from Sub-Saharan Africa recognised among the Future 50 is a testament to the exceptional talent, resilience, and innovative spirit that define the continent’s rising project leaders. These individuals are shaping the region’s future and showcasing to the world the profound impact of African ingenuity and leadership. At PMI, we are immensely proud to celebrate their achievements and remain committed to empowering project professionals across the region to continue driving meaningful change,” says George Asamani, Managing Director of Sub-Saharan Africa, PMI.
PMI reiterates that the recognition of these 50 leaders comes at a time when project management is more vital than ever where the world currently needs 2.5 million new project professionals each year by 2030 to fill the talent gap.
According to LinkedIn report, Project management is ranked one of the top ten in-demand skills for 2024. While Artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, and other macro trends transform industries and create new opportunities for innovation, the demand for skilled project managers capable of driving this transformation has never been higher.
“The Future 50 is pivotal in inspiring young people to see project management as a pathway to impactful careers where they can solve pressing global challenges and contribute to sustainable development. By celebrating young leaders who are shaping industries and communities through project management, the recognition highlights the diverse possibilities within the profession and serves as a call to action for more youth to embrace this empowering discipline and transform their ideas into realities.” Reads part of PMI’s press release.
By 2050, Africa’s youth population, already the largest in the world, is projected to double to over 830 million. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reports that by the same year, the continent’s working-age population (15-64 years old) will rise from 849 million in 2024 to 1.56 billion, accounting for 85% of the global workforce increase.
The standout professionals are expected to build, create, and lead transformative projects that not only solve complex problems but also help pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable future.
